Tenebrae

Tenebrae is an ancient devotional liturgy of the Church. It originates from the first two hours of prayer (Matins and Lauds) from the Liturgy of the Hours. These hours were prayed in the early hours of the morning before sunrise.

In the darkness the church is illumined by a single candelabra, the people pray and sing psalms, prayers, and responses. With each psalm, a candle is extinguished and the darkness grows until only one candle remains.

This final candle--symbolizing Christ--is removed from the church, and in the darkness, a great sound--the strepitus--arises to recall the chaos after the death of Christ. After the strepitus subsides, the candle is returned, and the people depart in silence.