Editing Tenebrae (section)

== Catholic Church ==
=== Original form ===
In the [[Catholic Church]], "Tenebrae" is the name given to the celebration, with special ceremonies, of [[matins]] and [[lauds]], the first two [[canonical hours|hours]] of the [[Liturgy of the Hours#Prior to the Second Vatican Council|Divine Office]] of each of the last three days of [[Holy Week]]. In the [[Roman Rite]] of the [[Catholic Church]] Tenebrae was celebrated in all churches with a sufficient number of clergy until the [[liturgical reforms of Pope Pius XII]] in the 1950s. The traditions regarding this service go back at least to the ninth century.<ref>James Monti. [https://books.google.com/books?id=ErAQU5bT2LkC&dq=tenebrae+%22ON+THE+MORNINGS+OF%22&pg=PA79 ''The Week of Salvation: History and Traditions of Holy Week'' p. 79 ff.] {{dead link|date=May 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, 1993 {{ISBN|0879735325}} {{ISBN|9780879735326}}</ref> Matins, originally celebrated a few hours after midnight, and lauds, originally celebrated at dawn, were anticipated by the late Middle Ages on the afternoon or evening of the preceding day,<ref name="Tenebrae">Herbert Thurston, "[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14506a.htm Tenebrae]," ''Catholic Encyclopedia,'' vol. 14 (New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912).</ref> and were given the name "Tenebrae" because they concluded when darkness was setting in.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=sQATBgAAQBAJ&dq=liturgies+tenebrae+darkness&pg=PT43 Theresa Sanders, "Festivals of Holy Pain : In the Wake of Good Friday" in Marko Zlomislic, Neal DeRoo (editors), ''Cross and Khora'' (Wipf and Stock 2010)]</ref>

The celebration of matins and lauds of these days on the previous evening in the form referred to as Tenebrae in churches with a sufficient number of clergy was universal in the [[Roman Rite]] until the [[Pope Pius XII Liturgy Reforms#The New Rite of Holy Week|reform of the Holy Week ceremonies]] by [[Pope Pius XII]] in 1955. He restored the [[Easter Vigil]] as a night office, moving that Easter liturgy from Holy Saturday morning to the following night and likewise moved the principal liturgies of [[Holy Thursday]] and [[Good Friday]] from morning to afternoon or evening. Thus matins and lauds of Good Friday and [[Holy Saturday]] could no longer be anticipated on the preceding evening, and even matins and lauds of Holy Thursday was allowed to be anticipated only in the case of cathedral churches in which the [[Chrism Mass]] was held on Holy Thursday morning.<ref>"Matins and lauds are not anticipated in the evening, but are said in the morning, at the proper hour. In cathedral churches, however, since the Mass of the Chrism is celebrated in the morning of Thursday of the Lord's Supper, Matins and Lauds of the same Thursday can be anticipated in the evening." Decree [https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=11136 ''Maxima redemptionis nostrae mysteria'' (16 November 1955)], No.&nbsp;5, §2, translated from [[Acta Apostolicae Sedis]] [https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-47-1955-ocr.pdf 47 (1955)], pp.&nbsp;838–847.</ref>

The 1960 [[Code of Rubrics]], which was incorporated in the next typical edition of the Roman Breviary, published on 5 April 1961, a year ahead of the publication of the 1962 edition of the Roman Missal,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DhnbGGkNvwwC&q=john+xxiii+breviary+1961&pg=PR16 |title=Piero Marini, ''A Challenging Reform: Realizing the Vision of the Liturgical Renewal, 1963–1975'' (Liturgical Press 2007), quotation: "new standard editions of the Breviary (April 5, 1961)" ..." |date=1962-06-23 |access-date=2018-07-09|isbn=9780814630358 |last1=Marini |first1=Piero |publisher=Liturgical Press }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8FupAwAAQBAJ&q=%22released+in+1961%22+breviary&pg=PT194 |title=Paul Bradshaw and Maxwell E. Johnson, ''The Eucharistic Liturgies: Their evolution and interpretation'' (SPCK 2012), quotation: "A new Roman Breviary was released in 1961" |date= 2012-06-21|access-date=2018-07-09|isbn=9780281068081 |last1=Bradshaw |first1=Paul }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=lisar1@charter.net |url=http://www.magnificatmedia.com/liturgical-books-of-the-roman-liturgy/ |title=Liturgical Books of the Roman Liturgy |publisher=Magnificat Media |date=2015-11-11 |access-date=2018-07-09}}</ref><ref>The Latin Mass Society: "[https://lmswrexham.weebly.com/news-blog/the-changes-to-the-breviary-in-the-60s-and-70s The changes to the Breviary in the 60's and 70's]"</ref> allowed no anticipation whatever of lauds, though matins alone could still be anticipated to the day before, later than the hour of vespers.<ref>"If the Office is recited in choir or in common, matins is not anticipated the evening before, but is said in the morning at a suitable hour. In churches where the Mass of the Chrism is celebrated, however, matins may be anticipated the evening before." Introductory rubric, Matins, Thursday of the Lord’s Supper, The Hours of the Divine Office in English and Latin, vol. 2 (Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1964) p. 1099. "In accord with the typical edition."</ref>

In sum:
* Until 1955 the three consecutive Tenebrae services for [[Maundy Thursday|Holy Thursday]], Good Friday and Holy Saturday, including the typical ceremonies such as the extinguishing of candles, with each of these three services anticipated on the previous evening, were widely celebrated as an integral part of the liturgy of Holy Week in churches with a sufficient number of clergy wherever the Roman Rite was followed. A rich tradition of music composed for these central occasions had developed.
* From 1956 to 1970 the practice largely declined:
** The 1955 papal document restored the celebration of matins and lauds of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday to their original timing as morning services, with only a little allowance for anticipating any of them on the evening before. On these three days attention shifted from what became morning services to the services that were now to be held in the afternoon or evening. Communal celebration of matins and lauds became limited generally to communities that observed the full Divine Office in congregational form. Matins and lauds, having lost their exceptional character, provided composers with little incentive to produce new music for them and there was no demand for grand performances of the existing music earlier composed for Tenebrae.
** The Roman Breviary, as updated in 1961, did not mention any specific Tenebrae ceremonies to accompany the no longer anticipated matins and lauds of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
* Finally, in the wake of the [[Second Vatican Council]], matins and lauds throughout the year were completely reformed. Matins, for instance, no longer had the nine [[psalms]] and lauds the five psalms that determined the number of candles extinguished in the Tenebrae celebration.

==== Structure of the original Tenebrae ====
The structure is the same for all three days. The first part of the service is [[matins]], which in its pre-1970 form is composed of three [[nocturns]], each consisting of three psalms, a [[versicle]], a silent [[Lord's Prayer|Pater noster]], and three readings, each followed by a [[responsory]]. The pre-1970 [[lauds]] consists of five psalms, a short versicle and response, and the [[Benedictus (Song of Zechariah)|Benedictus]] Gospel [[canticle]], followed by ''[[Christus factus est]]'', a silent Pater Noster, and the appointed [[collect]]. The [[Gloria Patri]] is not said after each psalm.<ref name="Benzinger1875">[[Catholic Church]] [https://archive.org/stream/completeofficeh00churgoog#page/n178/mode/2up ''The Complete Office of Holy Week According to the Roman Missal and Breviary, in Latin and English'', pp. 184–250; 282–336; 380–418] Benziger brothers, 1875</ref><ref name="Guéranger1870">[[Prosper Guéranger]], translated by Laurence Shepherd. [https://archive.org/stream/liturgicalyear06gura#page/304/mode/2up ''Passiontide and Holy Week'', Volume VI of The Liturgical Year, pp. 304–352; 414–450; 519–546] Dublin, 1870.</ref>

The principal Tenebrae ceremony is the gradual extinguishing of [[Candle#Christianity|candles]] upon a stand in the sanctuary called a hearse.<ref>Leo Kelly, "[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14506a.htm Tenebrae Hearse]," ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'', vol. 7 (New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910).</ref> Eventually, the Roman Rite settled on fifteen candles, one of which is extinguished after each of the nine psalms of matins and the five of lauds. The six altar candles are put out during the Benedictus, gradually reducing also the lighting in the church throughout the chanting of the canticle.<ref name=Herdt>[https://books.google.com/books?id=kAWH1Ya4rCsC&dq=herdt+%22post+finem%22&pg=PA41 P. J. B. de Herdt, ''Sacrae liturgiae praxis, juxta ritum romanum'' (Vanlinthout, Louvain, 1863), vol. 3, p. 41]</ref> Then any remaining lights in the church are extinguished and the last candle on the hearse is hidden behind the altar (if the altar is such as does not hide the light, the candle, still lit, is put inside a [[candle lantern]]),<ref>[https://www.ceremoniaire.net/guide/jeudi_st/triduum_classique.html#VI.II ''De l'office des Ténèbres, Cérémonies à observer'', 338,3]</ref> ending the service in total darkness. The ''[[strepitus]]'' (Latin for "great noise"), made by slamming a book shut, banging a [[hymnal]] or [[breviary]] against the pew, or stomping on the floor, symbolizes the earthquake that followed Christ's death, although it may have originated as a simple signal to depart.<ref name="Tenebrae"/> After the candle has been shown to the people, it is extinguished, and then put "on the credence table", or simply taken to the sacristy. All rise and then leave in silence.<ref>[[Adrian Fortescue]], ''The Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described'', 1917, p. 288.</ref>

==== Table illustrating the contents of the service ====

The 1 November 1911 [[reform of the Roman Breviary by Pope Pius X]] radically reorganized the weekly recitation of the Psalter. In the Tridentine [[Roman Breviary]] of [[Pope Pius V]] (1568), Psalms 62/63 and 66/67 (treated as a single unit) and Psalms 148–150 (again treated as a single unit) were recited at lauds every day of the week. Pius X eliminated such repetitions and provided a quite different choice of psalms for lauds.

The situation before the 1911 reform is illustrated in 19th-century publications such as [[Prosper Guéranger]]'s ''Passiontide and Holy Week'', (Dublin 1870)<ref name="Guéranger1870"/> and ''The Complete Office of Holy Week According to the Roman Missal and Breviary, in Latin and English'' (Benziger 1875).<ref name="Benzinger1875"/> It is more difficult to find similar online 20th-century publication, but the text of the Tenebrae services as reformed by Pope Pius X in 1911 is available in the 1924 edition of the ''[[Liber Usualis]]''.<ref>[http://www.lakewoodsound.com/quilisma/pdf_files/liber_seasonal/13_triduum_maundy_thursday_tenebrae.pdf 1924 Liber Usualis, with modern musical notation]</ref> The 1961 edition, with English rubrics and explanations, is available on more than one site.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/TheLiberUsualis1961/page/n771 Liber Usualis 1961 edition on archive.org] and [https://sanctamissa.org/en/music/gregorian-chant/choir/liber-usualis-1961.pdf on sanctamissa.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217002346/https://sanctamissa.org/en/music/gregorian-chant/choir/liber-usualis-1961.pdf |date=2020-02-17 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| rowspan="3" | (note: Psalm numbering<br>as in the [[Vulgate]])
! Maundy Thursday
! Good Friday
! Holy Saturday
! Practices
|-
! colspan="3" style="background: #ffdead;" | Matins
|-
! colspan="3" | First Nocturn (readings from the [[Book of Lamentations|Lamentations of Jeremiah]])
|-
| [[Antiphon]]
| Zelus domus
| Astiterunt reges terrae
| In pace
|-
! Psalm
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#68:1|Psalm 68]] ({{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|68|63}}}})
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#2:1|Psalm 2]] ({{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|2|63}}}})
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#4:1|Psalm 4]] ({{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|4|63}}}})
| 1st candle extinguished at end<ref name=Herdt/>
|-
| Antiphon
| Avertantur retrorsum
| Diviserunt sibi
| Habitabit in tabernaculo
|-
! Psalm
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#69:1|Psalm 69]] ({{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|69|63}}}})
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#21:1|Psalm 21]] ({{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|21|63}}}})
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#14:1|Psalm 14]] ({{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|14|63}}}})
| 2nd candle extinguished
|-
| Antiphon
| Deus meus eripe me
| Insurrexerunt in me
| Caro mea
|-
! Psalm
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#70:1|Psalm 70]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|70|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#26:1|Psalm 26]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|26|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#15:1|Psalm 15]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|15|63}}}}</ref>
| 3rd candle extinguished at end
|-
| [[Versicle]]
| Avertantur retrorsum
| Diviserunt sibi
| In pace in idipsum
|-
|
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | [[Lord's Prayer|Our Father]] (silent)
|-
| 1st reading
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Lamentations|1:1–1:5|63}}}}
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Lamentations|2:8–2:11|63}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Lamentations|3:22–3:30|63}}}}}}
|-
| 1st responsory
| [[In monte Oliveti]]
| [[Omnes amici mei]]
| [[Sicut ovis]]
|-
| 2nd reading
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Lamentations|1:6–1:9|63}}}}
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Lamentations|2:12–2:15|63}}}}
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Lamentations|4:1–4:6|63}}}}
|-
| 2nd responsory
| [[Tristis est anima mea (responsory)|Tristis est anima mea]]
| [[Velum templi]]
| [[Jerusalem surge]]
|-
| 3rd reading
|{{nowrap|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Lamentations|1:10–1:14|63}}}}}}
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Lamentations|3:1–3:9|63}}}}
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Lamentations|5:1–5:11|63}}}}
|-
| 3rd&nbsp;responsory
| [[Ecce vidimus]]
| [[Vinea mea]]
| [[Plange quasi virgo]]
|-
|
! colspan="3" | Second Nocturn (readings from [[Saint Augustine]]'s ''Commentaries on the Psalms'')
|-
| Antiphon
| Liberavit Dominus
| Vim faciebant
| Elevamini
|-
! Psalm
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#71:1|Psalm 71]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|71|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#37:1|Psalm 37]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|37|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#23:1|Psalm 23]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|23|63}}}}</ref>
| 4th candle extinguished at end
|-
| Antiphon
| Cogitaverunt impii
| Confundantur
| Credo videre
|-
! Psalm
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#72:1|Psalm 72]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|72|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#39:1|Psalm 39]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|39|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#26:1|Psalm 26]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|26|63}}}}</ref>
| 5th candle extinguished at end
|-
| Antiphon
| Exsurge, Domine
| Alieni insurrexerunt
| Domine, abstraxisti
|-
! Psalm
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#73:1|Psalm 73]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|73|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#53:1|Psalm 53]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|53|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#29:1|Psalm 29]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|29|63}}}}</ref>
| 6th candle extinguished at end
|-
| Versicle
| Deus meus, eripe me
| Insurrexerunt in me
| Tu autem
|-
|
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | Our Father (silent)
|-
| 4th reading
| from ''Comm. on [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#54:1|Psalm 54]]''<ref name=Aug54>[http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1801055.htm Augustine, ''Exposition on Psalm 55'']</ref>
| colspan="2" | from ''Commentary on [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#63:1|Psalm 63]]''<ref name=Aug63>[http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1801064.htm Augustine, ''Exposition on Psalm 64'']</ref>
|-
| 4th responsory
| [[Amicus meus]]
| [[Tamquam ad latronem]]
| [[Recessit pastor noster]]
|-
| 5th reading
| from ''Comm. on [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#54:1|Psalm 54]]''<ref name=Aug54/>
| colspan="2" | from ''Commentary on [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#63:1|Psalm 63]]''<ref name=Aug63/>
|-
| 5th responsory
| [[Judas mercator pessimus]]
| [[Tenebrae factae sunt]]
| [[O vos omnes]]
|-
| 6th reading
| from ''Comm. on [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#54:1|Psalm 54]]''<ref name=Aug54/>
| colspan="2" | from ''Commentary on [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#63:1|Psalm 63]]''<ref name=Aug63/>
|-
| 6th responsory
| [[Unus ex discipulis]]
| [[Animam meam dilectam]]
| [[Ecce quomodo]]
|-
|
! colspan="3" | Third Nocturn (readings from two [[New Testament epistles]])
|-
| Antiphon
| Dixi iniquis
| Ab insurgentibus
| Deus adjuvat me
|-
! Psalm
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#74:1|Psalm 74]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|74|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#58:1|Psalm 58]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|58|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#53:1|Psalm 53]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|53|63}}}}</ref>
| 7th candle extinguished at end
|-
| Antiphon
| Terra tremuit
| Longe fecisti
| In pace factus
|-
! Psalm
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#75:1|Psalm 75]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|75|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#87:1|Psalm 87]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|87|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#75:1|Psalm 75]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|75|63}}}}</ref>
| 8th candle extinguished at end
|-
| Antiphon
| In die tribulationis
| Captabunt
| Factus sum
|-
! Psalm
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#76:1|Psalm 76]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|76|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#93:1|Psalm 93]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|93|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#87:1|Psalm 87]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|87|63}}}}</ref>
| 9th candle extinguished at end
|-
| Versicle
| Exsurge, Domine
| {{nowrap|Locuti sunt adversum me}}
| In pace factus est
|-
|
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | Our Father (silent)
|-
| 7th reading
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|1 Corinthians|11:17–11:22|63}}}}
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Hebrews|4:11–4:15|63}}}}
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Hebrews|9:11–9:14|63}}}}
|-
| 7th responsory
| [[Eram quasi agnus innocens]]
| [[Tradiderunt me]]
| [[Astiterunt reges terrae]]
|-
| 8th reading
|{{nowrap|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|1 Corinthians|11:23–11:26|63}}}}}}
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Hebrews|4:16–5:3|63}}}}
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Hebrews|9:15–9:18|63}}}}
|-
| 8th responsory
| [[Una hora]]
| [[Jesum tradidit]]
| [[Aestimatus sum]]
|-
| 9th reading
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|1 Corinthians|11:27–11:34|63}}}}
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Hebrews|5:4–5:10|63}}}}
|{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Hebrews|9:19–9:22|63}}}}
|-
| 9th responsory
| [[Seniores populi]]
| [[Caligaverunt oculi mei]]
| [[Sepulto Domino]]
|-
|
! colspan="3" style="background: #ffdead;" | Lauds
|-
| Antiphon
| Justificeris, Domine
| Proprio Filio
| O mors
|-
! Psalm
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#50:1|Psalm 50]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|50|63}}}}</ref> ([[Psalm 51|Miserere]])
| 10th candle extinguished at end
|-
| Antiphon
| Dominus tamquam ovis
| Anxiatus est
| Plangent eum
|-
! Psalm
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#89:1|Psalm 89]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|89|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#142:1|Psalm 142]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|142|63}}}}</ref>
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#91:1|Psalm 91]]<ref>{{Bibleverse|Psalm|91|63}}</ref> (pre-1912)<br>Psalm 91<ref>{{Bibleverse|Psalm|91|63}}</ref> (from 1912)

| 11th candle extinguished at end
|-
| Antiphon
| Contritum est cor meum
| Ait latro ad latronem
| Attendite
|-
! Psalm
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#62:1|Psalms 62]]+[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#66:1|66]]<ref name=Pss62+66>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|62|63}}}}+{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|66|63}}}}</ref> (pre-1912)<br>[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#35:1|Psalm 35]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|35|63}}}}</ref> (from 1912)
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#62:1|Psalms 62]]+[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#66:1|66]]<ref name=Pss62+66/> (pre-1912)<br>[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#84:1|Psalm 84]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|84|63}}}}</ref> (from 1912)
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#62:1|Psalms 62]]+[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#66:1|66]]<ref name=Pss62+66/> (pre-1912)<br>[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#63:1|Psalm 63]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|63|63}}}}</ref> (from 1912)
| 12th candle extinguished at end
|-
| Antiphon
| Exhortatus es
| Dum conturbata
| A porta inferi
|-
! [[Old Testament]]<br>[[canticle]]
| [[Canticle of Moses]]<br>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Exodus|15:1–15:18|63}}}}
| Canticle of [[Habakkuk|Habacuc]]<br>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Habakkuk|3:2–3:19|63}}}}
| Canticle of [[Hezekiah|Ezechias]]<br>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Isaiah|38:10–38:20|63}}}}
| 13th candle extinguished at end
|-
| Antiphon
| Oblatus est
| Memento mei
| O vos omnes qui transitis
|-
! Psalm
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#148:1|Psalms 148]]+[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#149:1|149]]+[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#150:1|150]]<ref name=Pss148-150>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|148–150|63}}}}</ref> (pre-1912)<br>[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#146:1|Psalm 146]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|146|63}}}}</ref> (from 1912)
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#148:1|Psalms 148]]+[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#149:1|149]]+[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#150:1|150]]<ref name=Pss148-150/> (pre-1912)<br>[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#147:1|Psalm 147]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|147|63}}}}</ref> (from 1912)
| [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#148:1|Psalms 148]]+[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#149:1|149]]+[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#150:1|150]]<ref name=Pss148-150/> (pre-1912)<br>[[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#150:1|Psalm 150]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|150|63}}}}</ref> (from 1912)
| 14th candle extinguished at end
|-
| Versicle
| Homo pacis meae
| Collocavit me
| Caro mea
|-
| Antiphon
| Traditor autem
| Posuerunt super caput
| Mulieres sedentes
|-
! [[Benedictus (Song of Zechariah)|Benedictus]]
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | [[Canticle of Zachary]]<br> {{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Luke|1:68–1:79|63}}}}
| Altar candles extinguished at<br>different verses of Benedictus;<br>Last burning candle hidden<br>after repeat of antiphon
|-
|
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | [[Christus factus est]] (based on {{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Philippians|2:8–2:9|63}}}})
|-
|
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | Our Father (silent)
|-
|
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | [[s:la:Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Stuttgartensia)/Psalmi#50:1|Psalm 50]]<ref>{{lang|en|{{Bibleverse|Psalm|50|63}}}}</ref> ([[Psalm 51|Miserere]]), omitted after 1955<ref>Breviarium Romanum 1981 (totum), pp. 501, 512, 521</ref><ref>[http://www.musicasacra.com/pdf/liberusualis.pdf Liber Usualis 1981, p. 660, also referenced on pp. 719, 776C]</ref>
|
|-
! Prayer
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | Respice quaesumus
| Followed by ''strepitus'';<br>last candle brought back
|-
|}

====Music====
{{see also|Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet|Leçons de ténèbres|Responsories for Holy Week|Psalm 51#Musical settings}}
[[File:Jeremia Lamentationes.jpg|thumb|"The saddest melody within the whole range of music": the opening of the Tenebrae chanting of the [[Book of Lamentations]] of the Prophet Jeremiah]]
The lessons of the first [[nocturn]] at [[matins]] are taken on all three days from the [[Book of Lamentations]] and are sung to a specific [[Gregorian chant|Gregorian]] [[reciting tone]],<ref>[http://www.musicasacra.com/pdf/liberusualis.pdf Liber Usualis, p. 631]. Other Gregorian melodic patterns are found in manuscripts, but only this one is now commonly used ([https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0012_0_11786.html Lamentations, Book of.]</ref> which has been called "the saddest melody within the whole range of music".<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=Km0hCgAAQBAJ&dq=tenebrae+saddest+melody&pg=PT161 John F. Sullivan, ''The Externals of the Catholic Church'' (Aeterna Press 1951)]</ref> The [[Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet]] have been set to polyphonic music by many composers, including [[Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina|Palestrina]], [[Thomas Tallis|Tallis]] and [[Orlande de Lassus|Lassus]]. Such High-Renaissance polyphonic choral settings of Lamentations at Tenebrae, culminating in those of Lassus (1584), share the same texts with, but in musical idiom are to be distinguished from, the French Baroque genre of [[Leçons de ténèbres]], as composed by [[Marc-Antoine Charpentier]] (54 settings, H.91 - H.144), [[Michel Lambert]], and [[François Couperin]]. In the 20th century [[Ernst Krenek]] wrote a ''[[Lamentatio Jeremiae prophetae (Krenek)|Lamentatio Jeremiae prophetae]]'', Op. 93 (1941–1942), and [[Igor Stravinsky]] composed ''[[Threni (Stravinsky)|Threni]]'' (1957–1958).

Each day, the lessons of the second nocturn are from writings of [[St. Augustine]], and the lessons of the third nocturn from two [[New Testament epistles]]. These are chanted to the ordinary [[Reciting tone|lesson tone]] and have been relatively neglected by composers, though there are a few settings by [[Manuel Cardoso (composer)|Manuel Cardoso]].

The [[Tenebrae responsories]] have been set by, among others, [[Lassus]], [[Carlo Gesualdo|Gesualdo]], [[Tomas Luis de Victoria|Victoria]], [[Marc-Antoine Charpentier]], [[Francesco Antonio Vallotti]], and [[Jan Dismas Zelenka]]. [[Gregorio Allegri]]'s [[Miserere (Allegri)|setting of the ''Miserere'' psalm]], to be sung at the Tenebrae Lauds, is one of the best known compositions for the service. Also Gesualdo includes a setting of that psalm in his ''[[Responsoria et alia ad Officium Hebdomadae Sanctae spectantia]]'', along with a setting of the Benedictus.

=== Roman Rite since 1970 ===
[[File:Catholic_Tenebrae_service.jpg|thumb|right|A modern Tenebrae service in a Catholic church on [[Spy Wednesday]] 2019, adapted by, for instance, replacing the 15-candle hearse with individual candlesticks for a much smaller number of candles and omitting the six altar candles]]
After the 1970 revision of the [[Roman Breviary]], now called the [[Liturgy of the Hours]], a 1988 circular letter from the [[Congregation for Divine Worship]] recommended communal celebration of the [[Office of Readings]] and Morning Prayer − which were formerly called matins and lauds − on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, and remarked that this office was "formerly called 'Tenebrae'".<ref>Congregation for Divine Worship, Circular Letter [http://www.ewtn.net/library/CURIA/CDWEASTF.HTM Paschalis sollemnitatis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719040737/http://www.ewtn.net/library/CURIA/CDWEASTF.HTM |date=2011-07-19 }} Concerning the Preparation and Celebration of the Easter Feasts (16 January 1988), n. 40: ''Notitiae'' 24 (1988) pp. 81–107: "It is recommended that there be a communal celebration of the Office of Readings and Morning Prayer on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. It is fitting that the bishop should celebrate the Office in the cathedral, with as far as possible the participation of the clergy and people. This Office, formerly called 'Tenebrae', held a special place in the devotion of the faithful as they meditated upon the passion, death and burial of the Lord, while awaiting the announcement of the resurrection."</ref> The ''General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours'' says: "Before morning Lauds on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, the Office of Readings is, if possible, to be celebrated publicly and with the people taking part."<ref>[https://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/Rites/GILH.pdf ''The General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours, 210]</ref> The ''Ceremonial of Bishops'' (1984) says: "It is also desirable that, if at all possible, the bishop take part with the clergy and people in the office of readings and morning prayer on Good Friday and Holy Saturday."<ref>Congregation for Divine Worship, ''[[Cæremoniale Episcoporum|Ceremonial of Bishops]]'' (1984), n. 296; also nn. 189 and 217.</ref> The Office of Readings and Morning Prayer have only 6 psalms (3 in either hour), not the older form's 14, after each of which a candle was extinguished. The readings are no longer 3, divided into 9 sections, but 2 longer readings, and there is provision for extending the Office of Readings on more solemn occasions.<ref>See [http://www.ewtn.com/library/curia/cdwgilh.htm General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705220739/http://www.ewtn.com/library/curia/cdwgilh.htm |date=2019-07-05 }}, 73; Ceremonial of Bishops (1984), 214–216.</ref> In the older form, liturgical practice on those days differed from that on other days, even those of Lent: for instance, ''Gloria Patri'' was not included at the end of psalms and responsories.<ref>[http://www.sanctamissa.org/en/music/gregorian-chant/choir/liber-usualis-1961.html Liber Usualis (1961)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226110111/http://www.sanctamissa.org/en/music/gregorian-chant/choir/liber-usualis-1961.html |date=2014-02-26 }}, p. 625]</ref> The office of Tenebrae was abandoned at the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem only in 1977 − although the rule against anticipation of Matins and Lauds to the previous evening was already in effect there − because the times of Catholic Holy Week services had to remain unchanged due to the established rights of other churches.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://servus.christusrex.org/www1/ofm/easter/Reform.html |title=Reform of the Holy Week Liturgy at the Holy Sepulchre |access-date=2009-03-10 |archive-date=2011-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721213302/http://servus.christusrex.org/www1/ofm/easter/Reform.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

''[[Summorum Pontificum]]'' (2007) permits clerics bound to recitation of the Divine Office to use the 1961 Roman Breviary. Several religious and secular institutes and societies of apostolic life have availed themselves of this permission. The 1955 and 1960 changes incorporated into that edition of the Breviary continue to exclude anticipation of matins and lauds to the previous evening, whether celebrated with or without the Tenebrae ceremonies.

Services called Tenebrae, differing in several respects from the original form and not necessarily connected with [[Holy Week]], are held even where the pre-Vatican II 1961 Roman Breviary is not used:
* The Jesuit Institute provides a service, denominated Tenebrae, without psalms and not necessarily in darkness, in which a candle is extinguished after the reading of each of seven Scripture passages related to the [[Passion of Jesus]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jesuitinstitute.org/Pages/Liturgy/Tenebrae.htm |title=The Liturgy of Tenebrae |publisher=Jesuit Institute |access-date=2018-07-09}}</ref>
* A modified form of the old-style Tenebrae that leaves the church in darkness is used by the [[Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius]] in Chicago.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catholic.org/prwire/headline.php?ID=6244 |title=Tenebrae for Holy Week – Back by Popular Demand |publisher=Catholic.org |access-date=2018-07-09}}</ref>
* Several Catholic cathedrals and other churches arrange one-off services with Gregorian chant and polyphonic music from the traditional Tenebrae service, sometimes as an evening concert.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://diosav.org/lent-2017/tenebrae |title=Diocese of Savannah: Tenebrae Service and Concert |publisher=Diosav.org |date=2017-04-12 |access-date=2018-07-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://dioceseoftrenton.org/events/tenebrae-service-1 |title=Tenebrae Service |publisher=Diocese of Trenton |date=2017-04-12 |access-date=2018-07-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://reginamag.com/time-bring-tenebrae-shadows/ |title=Regina magazine: Time to bring Tenebrae out of the shadows |date=21 March 2016 |publisher=Reginamag.com |access-date=2018-07-09}}</ref>

Unlike the original well-attended Tenebrae, these modern adaptations have attracted little attention on the part of musical composers. {{Citation Needed|date=July 2023}}