HOLY WEEK AT THE MONASTERY TENEBRAE: A SERVICE OF SHADOWS April 5, 2023 T HE S OCIETY OF S AINT J OHN THE EVANGELIST 980 Memorial Drive Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 617.876.3037 www.SSJE.org
A Word about the Liturgy
Tenebrae (from the Latin for shadows or darkness) is a service that derives from the ancient monastic services of matins and lauds. It provides an opportunity for sustained reflection on the Lord’s suffering and death. This evening’s liturgy consists of chanted psalms and canticles set to plainsong, chanted lessons from the Lamentations of Jeremiah (in which each verse is introduced by a letter of the Hebrew alphabet), and responsories set to harmonized Anglican chant. At the conclusion of the liturgy, the congregation is invited to join the Community in singing the hymn “My song is love unknown.”
After the final hymn we depart in silence.
2
All stand.
Anthem Christus factus est (Christ became obedient)
All are seated.
Silent Prayer
All stand.
Response
Collect
Lesson Lamentations (Aleph–He)
Responsory In monte Oliveti (On the Mount of Olives)
Lesson Lamentations (Waw–Teth)
Responsory Tristis est anima mea (My soul is very sorrowful)
Lesson Lamentations (Yodh–Nun)
Responsory Ecce vidimus eum (Lo, we have seen him)
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Psalms Psalm 69:1
23 BCP,
679 Psalm 70 BCP,
Psalm 74 BCP,
–
p.
p. 682
p. 689
Antiphon From the gates of hell, O Lord, deliver my soul.
1 In my despair I said, “In the noonday of my life I must depart; * my unspent years are summoned to the portals of death.”
2 And I said, “No more shall I see the Lord in the land of the living, * never more look on my kind among dwellers on earth.
3 My house is pulled down and I am uncovered,* as when a shepherd strikes his tent.
4 My life is rolled up like a bolt of cloth,* the threads cut off from the loom.
5 Between sunrise and sunset my life is brought to an end; * I cower and hope for the dawn.
6 Like a lion he has crushed all my bones; * like a swallow or thrush I utter plaintive cries; I mourn like a dove.
7 My weary eyes look up to you; * Lord, be my refuge in my affliction.”
8 But what can I say? for he has spoken; * it is he who has done this.
9 Slow and halting are my steps all my days,* because of the bitterness of my spirit.
10 O Lord, I recounted all these things to you and you rescued me; * when entreated, you restored my life.
4 Psalms Psalm 63:1–8 BCP, p. 670 Psalm 90:1–12 BCP, p. 717
The Song of Hezekiah Isaiah 38:10–20
11 I know now that my bitterness was for my good,* for you held me back from the pit of destruction, you cast all my sins behind you.
12 The grave does not thank you nor death give you praise; * nor do those at the brink of the grave hang on your promise.
13 It is the living, O Lord, the living who give you thanks as I do this day; * and parents speak of your faithfulness to their children.
14 You, Lord, are my Savior; * I will praise you with stringed instruments all the days of my life, in the house of the Lord.
Antiphon From the gates of hell, O Lord, deliver my soul.
Silent Prayer
All stand.
Response
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Collect Canticle 16 The Song of Zechariah BCP, p. 92 Psalm Psalm 51 BCP, p. 656
6 Hymn My song is love unknown Hymnal 458
All depart in silence.
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Supplementary hymns are used by permission and licensed to be reprinted for this service by OneLicense.Net: #A-725463
The Monastery as Sanctuary
We want our Monastery to be a sanctuary for our guests and for the Brothers. Please silence your electronic devices. We also ask you not to photograph, video, or record services in the Chapel, or to photograph other guests or Brothers without their express permission.
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