Palm Sunday - New Behavior During the Passion

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This past Palm Sunday, I observed something new our parish decided to do during the reading of the Passion, and I am curious if others have encountered this same thing and what others’ thoughts may be.

At the point of Jesus’ death in the Passion, as instructed in the Missal, all knelt; however, this year, for the first time, the music director immediately began playing music and singing “Jesus, Remember Me.” I was instantly appalled; from my youth, I was taught that this was a most sacred time. Kneeling at the point of Christ’s death during the Passion was a time for silent reflection on His suffering and death.

Perhaps I am overreacting to this change; I am admittedly rather resistant to new things. I must say in my opinion, though, that this moment in the liturgical year is special in its own right, and doesn’t benefit from embellishment.
 
For the past couple of years our choir has been singing an acclamation at certain points during the reading of the Passion. Our previous Lectionary, and a CCCB document “Music for the Sunday Assembly” suggested this (The gospel acclamation can be repeated at several places during the proclamation of the Passion. See the Lectionary for the places suggested. Another acclamation of praise may be used, such as CBW III 45, 47, 52, 64.) but our present one does not. Luckily it is never at this particular moment.
 
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I may have had a similar experience in the home parish. Also, the singing of a the refrain from Dan Schutte’s Let Us Ever Glory In The Cross of Christ at various points during The Passion of Our Lord on Good Friday. Even at the departure, though the worship aid reads “All depart in silence.”
 
Update:

The same behavior was repeated during the reading of The Passion on Good Friday.
 
An acclamation was sung (Kyrie eleison) during our Good Friday reading of the Passion. But it was only done after Peter’s betrayal and one other place, not at Jesus’ death.
 
While the words of the thief on the cross are entirely appropriate, they came before this point - before the moment of Christ’s death.

It is a test of our faith and charity to endure such practices. Some music directors seem to have a need to fill every moment with some sort of, well, music. Recalling Ecclesiastes here, there is a time for everything: to sing and to refrain from singing.

The value of silence and the reverence which not only produces it, but also engenders it, is lost on our noisy culture.

A mention to father would be appropriate.
 
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