Holy Week at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary

The priests and seminarians of Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary, in Denton, Nebraska, recently observed all the solemnities of Holy Week, including the service of Tenebrae.

For the Feast of Palm Sunday, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered by Fr. Charles Ryan, FSSP, who was assisted by Rev. Mr. Edward Brodsky, FSSP, as deacon and Rev. Mr. Ian Verrier, FSSP, as subdeacon. On Maundy Thursday Fr. Robert Ferguson, FSSP, offered the Mass, assisted by Fr. William Lawrence, FSSP, as deacon and Rev. Mr. Edward Brodsky, FSSP, as subdeacon. The Liturgy of Good Friday was offered by Fr. Joseph Lee, FSSP, assisted by Rev. Mr. Ian Verrier, FSSP, as deacon, and Fr. William Lawrence, FSSP, as subdeacon. Holy Week concluded with Fr. Benoît Guichard, FSSP, offering the Solemn Easter Vigil of Holy Saturday, assisted by Rev. Mr. Ian Verrier, FSSP, as deacon and Fr. Charles Ryan, FSSP, as subdeacon.

As part of Holy Week, the seminarians of Our Lady of Guadalupe also offered the service of Tenebrae, which is composed of the hours of Matins and Lauds. “Tenebrae,” from the Latin for shadows, is an ancient liturgical custom dating to at least the ninth century. In it the lamentations of Our Lord’s suffering and death are recounted in a series of three nocturnes, representitive of His betrayal and abandonment as He was left to the agonizing punishment of His Passion. As the service continues from Maundy Thursday to Holy Saturday, the fifteen candles are systematically extinguished to the point that a single candle remains – Christ’s candle, which is kept in reserve until the end of the service, at which it is extinguished, and all leave in darkness.

April 21, 2015