Evening journal., 1898-04-07
SERVICE OF TENEBRAE.
Ancient and Mournful Office
Read in the Cathedral.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SERVICE

|
CHANTS OF THE PRIESTS RE-
CALL THE LAMENTATIONS OF
JEREMIAH AT THE DESTRUC-
TION OF JERUSALEM THE FIF-
TEEN CANDLES.
In st. Peters Pro-Cathedral last
night at Sixth and Wee streets, the
mournful office OF Tenebrae, peculiar
to Holy Week, was ohanted by the
priests and assisting priests in charge
OF this weeks services at the church.
Lessons from the Scriptures, Lamenta-
tions OF jeremiah, ETC., make up the
nocturns into which the orice is di-
vided.
The word Tenebrae means Dark
| ness" and Il gets its name from the |
fact that towards the end all the lights |
are extlngulshed, as an expression Of |
the deepest mourning at the death oil
the Saviour, and also TO symbolic tho |
darkness which covered the earth at |
the time of the cruciflxion. Il Is said |
that in the early ages of the church, |
when Christians spent the greatest
part OF the nights during Holy Week,
especially the last four days, In general
watchings in the churches. the office
OF Tenebrae was recited at midnight,
and that this practice was still continu-
ed within the last 500 years, or In the
twelfth century, as Is manifest from
the old Roman Order and the COM
ments OF MaIbillon and Martenne.
The pslams, etc, comprising the
Tenebrae are really the mathis or pray
ers for the following day In the office
which Is recited daily by all priests and
other religious orders. The Tenebrae
is divided into three nocturns each day
and these. nocturns are subdivided into
three lamentations or lessons each.
A striking feature of the service was
the large triangular candlestick. which
was placed on the left OF the epistle
side OF the sanctuary. This candle
+ stick contains fifteen candles, seven on
y. each side and one on top. After each
: psalm candle was extinguished, until
5 all but the tOpmast the white candle
had been put out. This white candle
was left burning while the priests
e chanted the "Benedictus," the six can-
l. dies on the altar being extinguished
r one by one at the close OF each verse
5. OF the psalm. At the beginning OF the
5, verse, after the 'Benedictus," the
1 white candle was taken down from
Is the top Of the triangular candlestick
'r and hid back OF the altar, while the
'r psalm, 'Nfiserere," and prayer were re-
y cited, after which II was brought out
L again.
l. The use OF the fifteen candles I'M the
4 ceremony and the manner OF placing
r them and gradually extinguishing them
v Is very ancient rite, and occurs in 9
lt manuscript copy OF the old Roman
Order OF the divine office OF The
G. seventh century, published by Mabil
no lon. The significance OF the candles
10 Is variously interpreted, but perhaps tn
most generally accepted Is that th
as fourteen candles, which are yellow
represent the eleven apostles, tn
~ Blessed Virgin Mary. and the Othe
IL holy women and all the disciples, am
r the extinction OF these lights symbolic
u, their flight or mourning. The whit
VI candle typlfes Christ, and II is hi
u back OF the altar and again produce
@ TO show that, after burial. He aros
In again.
~ From yesterday the services in tn
Catholic Church commemorate the var
an lous stages OF Christ's passion, begin
- ming with the conspiracy formed D.
the Jews to take away the Saviour
life by criminal prosecution befor
l Illdltt lnt AN0iAaAA tVNhAhOAf tNAA NNA
minating with His death on Calvary
With the exception OF the services o
Holy Thursday in honor OF the estat
IL lishment by Christ OF the sacramer
IN OF the Blessed Eucharist, all the devC
tlonal exercises are characterized by
spirit OF mourning. The churches al
no stripped OF all ornament, the picture
as and statues are yelled in purple, whic
denotes penance and mourning for sil
'eu the affairs are bare, the organ Is hushe
ns and the singing is In a severely dew
~ tional and solemn strain. Some OF n
10 music, TO which a portion OF the II
81 mentations OF Jeremiah the PrOphi
~. are sung during the Tenebrae servic
~ Is believed to date from the fourth cel
~ tury. and Is attributed to st. Am'bros
~ The beauty and depth OF feeling OF ID
az s' music Is said to have moved St. Augi
80 tine to tears. The dominant ideas ru
s ming through the various prayers see
a. a., TO be praise to the Almighty. peniten'
- for sin and pleading for mercy and 70
oor giveness. Throughout, repeatedly, r
eot ours the refrain, Jerusalem. Jerus
.ed lem, convertere ad DOminum Deu
~, tuum"--'Jerusalem, Jerusalem, retu
Inc to the Lord thy Cod"
To-day is Holy Thursday, and in {
md cathedral this morning Bishop Mon
CHAN said mass. All of the priests
,sts the diocese were present and took pa
in the services. At the end Of the Ina
the bishop blessed and distributed he
oil to the priests, to be used for I
IA. dying. This afternoon. as it has be
any the custom with Catholics. the church
ing will be visited and each suppliant
and supposed to say a prayer in eve
syl- church and give a small sum OF mon,
mn
the MRS. WALKER BURIED.
r,ho f,,,era1 ~ Nc Tcadoro A M