Holy Week 2026 and Tenebrae

Holy Week Schedule

TENEBRAE

Tuesday, March 31 at 8:00 pm

By St. Michael's Choir School Alumni

Tenebrae: A service of Light and Darkness, of Readings, Psalms and Sacred Music

A perfect prelude to the Paschal Triduum

What: Tenebrae is a liturgical service of sung readings and Psalms that features distinctive symbolic elements of Christ’s passion and death.

Why Tenebrae?: Tenebrae means “shadows” or “darkness” in Latin. The service shows the darkness that comes over the earth upon Christ’s death. One of the chants of the service draws from Scripture that tenebrae factae sunt — “darkness fell” at the death of Christ (Matthew 27:45-46).

Elements: Candles are gradually extinguished, and a loud noise, called a “strepitus” at the service’s conclusion symbolizes the chaos following Christ’s death.

According to Tradition: Historically, it was a portion of the Liturgy of the Hours prayers of Matins and Lauds for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of Holy Week. Now, it is often an adaptation or shortened form of those prayers typically offered on Wednesday of Holy Week.

Holy Week Connection: Tenebrae is designed to serve as a powerful, reflective experience for the faithful ahead of the Easter Triduum. The representation of the darkness of sin and death serve to call the faithful to embrace the light of Christ, who has conquered death.

Passion (Palm) Sunday

Holy Week Begins on March 29

During Holy Week, the church celebrates the mysteries of salvation accomplished by Christ in the last days of his life on earth, beginning with his messianic entrance into Jerusalem. Holy Week and the Paschal Triduum, are the center and pivot of the entire Liturgical Year, for the events re-lived during this time are at the very heart of our Faith. The Palms blessed on Passion Sunday are placed in significant locations in our homes (behind Crucifixes on home Altars or shire tables, etc.) as a reminder that we welcome our Saviour into the city of our hearts.

Mass of Chrism - Tuesday, March 31

Will be celebrated at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica, on Tuesday, March 31st at 11:00 am, Presided over by our Archbishop Frank Cardinal Leo. Priests who serve in the Archdiocese of Toronto renew their commitment to serve, and the Holy Oils used in the Sacraments (Sacred Chrism, Oil of Catechumens, Oil of the Sick) are blessed. You are warmly invited to take part in this special celebration, either in person at the Cathedral or online. https://www.stmichaelscathedral.com/live/

Tenebrae, Tuesday March 31, at 8:00 pm

Tenebrae is a liturgical service of sung Readings and Psalms that features distinctive symbolic elements of Christ’s passion and death. A perfect prelude to the Sacred Triduum.

Good Friday - Passion of the Lord, April 3

On this day we reflect on the Passion of Jesus Christ who became our Pascal Sacrifice through his suffering and death on the Cross. We are obliged to fast and abstain from eating meat. We are also invited to keep the Paschal Fast: a quiet period of prayer, reflection and fasting during the Paschal Triduum, especially during Good Friday and Holy Saturday. A special collection will be taken for the Church in Holy Land.

Holy Saturday - Easter Vigil Liturgy, April 4

St. Augustine said that the Easter Vigil, the night when Jesus rose from the dead, is the Mother of all Vigils. Easter Vigil Liturgy includes the Service of the Light, Easter Proclamation and Renewal of Baptismal Promises. At this liturgy, we welcome new members to the Catholic Church.

Easter Sunday - Resurrection of the Lord, April 5

Our renewal of baptismal promises, sealed by the sprinkling of the new Holy Water blessed at the vigil the previous night, expresses our faith in the resurrection of Jesus.

Holy Thursday - Mass of the Lord’s Supper, April 2

This is the opening Mass of the Paschal Triduum; this liturgy commemorates the Last Supper Christ ate with his Apostles the night before he died. The Church recalls the institution of the Eucharist and of the Priesthood, as well as Christ’s new commandment of love. After the Homily, the Washing of Feet recalls for us Christ’s own act of charity and humility at the Last Supper when he washed the feet of his disciples. The liturgy concludes with the procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the altar of repose and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.