Tenebrae  is the public chanting of a part of the Divine Office, taking place on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of Holy Week.

"All is sad and mournful, as though it were a funeral service: nothing could more emphatically express the grief that now weighs down the heart of our holy mother the Church." - The Liturgical Year

The service takes its name, Tenebrae (darkness), from a ceremony which forms a part of it - the gradual extinguishing of 15 candles in a triangular candlestick standing in the sanctuary.

It contains passages or "lessons" from the Lamentations of the Prophet Jeremias chanted to a beautiful and most mournful tune.

After 14 candles are extinguished one by one, the candles on the altar and the other lights in the church are put out. The 15th, topmost candle is then removed, and, still lighted, is hidden behind the altar.

After a mournful chant and the reciting of the "Miserere", a noise is made by those attending with their books (symbolizing the earthquake at the death of Christ), and the hidden candle is replaced in the candlestick, as an emblem of our Risen Saviour.

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Location: Immaculate Conception Church, Norwood, OH

Miserere sung by the Immaculate Conception Church choir.