Thursday, April 20. We receive individual absolution by the laying on of hands. The congregation participates in the reading of the Passion according to St. John by speaking aloud the words of the crowd that condemned Jesus. The service ends with Tenebrae, the Service of the Shadows, as scriptures are read and the nave is darkened, dramatizing Jesus' death. In mourning we leave the nave in darkened silence and keep canonical hours until the Easter Vigil.
Canonical hours consist of a short prayer service every three hours.
Campus Ministry and Martin's Mavericks will jointly host the 3 a.m. service late Friday night. We begin in the courtyard with the lighting of the new Paschal Candle to symbolize the resurrection of Christ. The congregation then enters the nave by candlelight, reminding us of the empty tomb. The first communion of Easter starts at midnight to celebrate the Resurrection of Our Lord. Thursday, April 20.