Holy Week 2015: Tenebrae at St. Mary's Cathedral

By Communications Department - Archdiocese of Miami

Miami… (March 27, 2015) The Tenebrae, or “Service of Darkness,” will take place in St. Mary’s Cathedral on Wednesday, April 01, at 8:30 p.m. The Cathedral choir will sing Major Choral Works.  This year’s program will feature works for cantor, men’s schola, mixed schola and full choir. The centerpieceof this year’s program is Gregorio Allegri’s masterpiece, Miserere mei. St. Mary’s Cathedral is locatedat 7525 N.W. Second Avenue in Miami.

The Latin word Tenebrae means “darkness,” used to signify the services before Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.  The main focus during these services is on Christ’s suffering, death and descent among the dead. Tenebrae refers to the evening setting for these services of the Word and the progressive extinguishing of the church lights. During the service, lighted candles are extinguished after the recitation of each psalm, a practice that is allegorically interpreted as the Disciples’ desertion of Christ and finally his own death and burial. The customs of the Tenebrae is celebrated in darkness, a practice beginning in the Middle Ages. During the Middle Ages, this custom became stylized, so that a candle stand was used for fifteen candles (the number of the psalms prayed each day).  

The Archdiocese of Miami celebrates Holy Week of 2015, from March 29 - April 05; starting with Palm Sunday and ending with Easter Sunday. 

ALL MEDIA ARE WELCOME.

Media contact: Juan A. Di Prado, Media Coordinator, at 305-762-1046 [email protected], or Mary Ross Agosta, Director of Communications, at 305-762-1043 [email protected].                                                                           

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