An Order for The Evening service on Wednesday of and of Maundy Thursday

Tenebrae, “shadows,” is a service whose form is taken from the monastic night office of Matins and the early morning office of Lauds. Matins is divided into three , each consisting of three and three lessons. Each psalm is paired with an providing a point of reflection relating the psalms of the day to the holy day being observed, in this case, Maundy Thursday; similarly, each lesson is followed by a responsory, whose text reflects on themes of the day. Lauds, the morning office, consists of five psalms and , as well as the Benedictus, or of Zacharias; each of these is again paired with an antiphon. During the Triduum, Lauds concludes with a final antiphon, “Christ was made obedient,” whose text is added to on each subsequent day of the Triduum. All are invited to pray an Our Father or other prayers in silence between each Nocturn of Matins, and between Matins and Lauds. The service of Tenebrae also symbolically enacts the passage from light to darkness of the final days of Holy Week with the extinction of the few candles that light the service. However, darkness can never fully swallow up the light; at the conclusion of the service, a loud noise is made, symbolizing the harrowing of Hell, and a final light is returned to view, by which worshippers may depart in silence. At Matins: First Nocturn

Antiphon: The zeal of thine house hath even eaten me; and the rebukes of them that rebuked thee are fallen upon me. Psalm 69

Antiphon: Let them be turned backward and put to confusion, that wish me evil. Psalm 70

Antiphon: Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the ungodly. Psalm 71

Versicle: Let them them be turned backward and put to confusion. That wish me evil.

First Lesson. Lamentations 1:1-5.

Responsory: Upon the mount of Olives I prayed to the Father: Father, if it be possible, cause this cup to pass from me; the spirit truly is willing, but the flesh is weak: thy will be done. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. Thy will be done.

Second Lesson. Lamentations 1: 6-9

Responsory: My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; tarry ye here, and watch with me: now shall ye behold a multitude, which will throng about me: ye will flee, and forsake me, and I shall go hence to be offered for you. Behold, the is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Ye will flee, and forsake me, and I shall go hence to be offered for you.

Third Lesson, Lamentations 1: 10-14.

Responsory: Behold, we have seen him, and lo, he hath no form nor comeliness, nor aught of beauty, that we should desire him: he hath borne our sins and offenses, and for us he grieveth: howbeit, he was wounded for our iniquities, and with his stripes we are healed. Surely he hath borne our sicknesses, and carried our sorrows. And with his stripes we are healed. Second Nocturn

Antiphon: The Lord shall deliver the poor when he crieth: the needy also, and him that hath no helper. Psalm 72.

Antiphon: They imagine wickedness, and speak of wicked blasphemy: their talking is against the most Highest. Psalm 73.

Antiphon: Arise O Lord, and maintain my cause. Psalm 74.

Versicle: Deliver my soul, O Lord, from the hand of the ungodly. And from the hand of the wicked and unlawful.

Fourth Lesson: From the exposition of Augustine on Psalm lxiv.

Responsory: One of my disciples shall this day betray me: Woe to that man by whom I am betrayed. Good were it for that man if he had never been born. He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me into the hands of sinners. Good were it for that man if he had never been born.

Fifth Lesson: From the exposition of Augustine on Psalm lxiv.

Responsory: Judas, most evil trafficker, sought to betray the Lord with a kiss: he, as an innocent lamb, refused not the kiss of Judas. For thirty pieces of silver he betrayed Christ. Drunken with the poison of covetousness, while thirsting for gain, he drew near to his doom. For thirty pieces of silver he betrayed Christ.

Sixth Lesson. From the exposition of Augustine on Psalm lxiv.

Responsory. Wherefore sleep ye? Could ye not watch for one hour with me, ye who were in readiness to die for me? See ye not Judas yonder, how he sleepeth not, but hasteth to betray me? Sleep on now, and take your rest: lo, he that doth betray me is at hand. See ye not Judas yonder, how he sleepeth not, but hasteth to betray me? Third Nocturn

Antiphon: I said to the wicked, deal not so madly; speak not unrighteously against the Lord. Psalm 75

Antiphon: The earth trembled, and was still, when God arose to judgement. Psalm 76.

Antiphon: In the time of my tribulation, I stretched out my hands unto the Lord. Psalm 77.

Versicle: Arise, O Lord. And judge my cause.

Seventh Lesson (1 Corinthians 11:20-22)

Responsory: The elders of the people consulted together, that they might take him by subtlety, and put him to death. They went out against him with swords and staves, as against a robber. They conceived falsehood within themselves, and straightway went forth. They went out against him with swords and staves, as against a robber.

Eighth Lesson. (1 Corinthians 11: 23-26)

Responsory. O Judas, who has wholly turned from peaceable counsels, and taken counsel in secret: thou selledst the righteous blood for thirty pieces of silver, and gavest a kiss, the sign of friendship, having enmity within thine heart. Thou has let thy mouth speak wickedness, and with thy tongue thou has set forth deceit. And gavest a kiss, the sign of friendship, having enmity within thine heart.

Ninth Lesson. (1 Corinthians 11: 27-32)

Responsory. The heavens shall discover the iniquity of Judas, and the earth shall arise in judgment against him; and his evil doing shall be revealed in the day of the Lord’s anger, together with them which said to the Lord God: Depart thou from among us; we seek not to come to the knowledge of thy ways. He shall be reserved unto the day of destruction, and shall be brought forth to the day of vengeance. Together with them which said to the Lord God: Depart thou from among us; we seek not to come to the knowledge of thy ways. At Lauds

Antiphon: Mayest thou be justified in thy saying: and clear when thou art judged. .

Antiphon: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter: and he opened not his mouth. Psalm 90.

Antiphon: My heart with me is broken: all my bones shake. Psalm 36.

Antiphon: Thou has encouraged us in thy power O Lord: and in the holy Refection. The Song of Moses (Exodus 15:1-19).

Antiphon: He was made an offering because he himself desired it: and himself bare our sins. Psalm 147.

Versicle: My own familiar friend, whom I trusted. Who also did eat of my bread, hath laid great wait for me.

Antiphon at the Benedictus: Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign saying: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. Canticle of Zacharias (Luke 1).

Antiphon: Christ became obedient for us unto death.

(Our Father is then said silently.)

Collect: Almighty God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked me, and to suffer death upon the Cross.

A noise is made, and the hidden candle is returned.