The candles are extinguished one by one throughout the liturgy, until the office concludes in darkness.During the Holy Triduum, the night office of matins and the morning office of lauds have a special liturgy, called Tenebrae, made up of psalms, lessons and readings, and sung responses. Here is Tenebrae on Good Friday at the novitiate.There is no consecration on Good Friday. The Host from the altar of repose is elevated for all to adore and only the priest receives Holy Communion.The procession approaches the altar of repose, and Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is then carried back to the high altar.The sisters sing the traditional chants that represent the anguish of Our Lord during His Passion, including the refrain: “O my people, what have I done to thee? Or wherein have I afflicted thee? Answer me.”The Cross, having been covered in violet since Passion Sunday, is now unveiledWhen the death of Our Lord is proclaimed in the reading of the Passion, all kneel a moment in silence.The chanting of the PassionThe Good Friday liturgy begins with the ministers prostrate before the altarOn Good Friday, the superiors serve the mealThe prayer before the meal on Good FridayThe altar of repose symbolizes Our Lord in the Garden of Olives.The Blessed Sacrament is no longer present at the high altar. It is now stripped bare, in contrast to the richly decorated altar of repose.The Blessed Sacrament will be adored at the altar of repose all night and until Good Friday’s liturgyThe Blessed Sacrament is carried in procession to the altar of repose.The sisters receive holy CommunionMass on Holy ThursdayA festive lunch is prepared in honor of the institution of the Priesthood and the Holy EucharistThe sisters prepare the altar of repose on Holy Thursday before the evening’s liturgyAdoration in the evening of Palm SundayThe elevation of the MassThe sisters hold the palms during the chanting of the PassionThe procession halts at the door of the church, where there is the solemn alternating chant of “Glory, praise, and honor be to you, Christ, Redeemer and King.”The procession travels through the cloister and then outside before returning to the churchThe sisters receive the blessed palms
