A
AJV
Guest
Perhaps having the congregation recite the parts of tge crowd is an extension of the practise of having the choir sing these parts in polyphonic settings?Just for the record, the use of three readers with the priest only representing Jesus is an ancient tradition. I heard it honored in the traditional plainchant, and very beautifully, in no less a place than Rome some years ago.
The innovation is having the entire congregation represent the crowds. This is both a sumerimposition on the rubrics (to put it politely) and an intrusion upon the members of the congregation, who can very reasonably not be expected to be comfortable with this kind of forced participation.
by LassusPassion according to St. Matthew
by VictoriaPassion according to St. John