A highlight of Holy Week, the diocesan Tenebrae Service will be held March 28 at 7:30 p.m. in St. Catharine Church, Spring Lake. Father Harold Cullen, St. Catharine pastor, will preside over the service, which will be live video streamed by the parish, and available for viewing on TrentonMonitor.com.
Tenebrae, meaning darkness or shadows, is an ancient service that is prayed and sung, commemorating the Death of Jesus through psalms, lessons and chants expressing grief. A principal element of the service is the extinguishing of 15 candles, reflecting the desertion of the Apostles and three days of darkness following Christ’s death.
The candles are displayed in a triangular stand. The candle at the top, symbolizing Christ, remains lit but is hidden behind or under the altar during the closing prayer, symbolizing Christ’s burial. When the prayer is completed, a loud noise is made representing the earth quake that followed Christ’s death on the Cross. The lit candle is returned to its place, symbolizing Christ’s victory over death. The noise ceases, and the congregation departs the church in silence.
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An archive video of the annual Chrism Mass, which drew more than 1100 priests, religious, deacons and lay persons to St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, March 26, is now available for viewing. The Chrism Mass homily of Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., is also now posted. Both videos can be accessed at DioceseofTrenton.org and TrentonMonitor.com.
A photo gallery of the Chrism Mass is also posted on The Monitor’s site.