Sung Passion on Good Friday

[Gaudium86]

Hello all. On Good Friday, my church’s choir did a beautiful sung presentation of the Passion. I was a bit surprised, however, by the fact that Jesus’ part was sung by a member of the choir instead of one of the many priests present. This seems like an abuse to me; a priest has read the Christ part at every other Passion reading I’ve ever attended.

Any thoughts?

 

[japhy]

On Good Friday, my church’s choir did a beautiful sung presentation of the Passion. I was a bit surprised, however, by the fact that Jesus’ part was sung by a member of the choir instead of one of the many priests present.

The part of Christ should be read by an ordained minister: “The passion narrative … should be sung or read in the traditional way, that is, by three persons who take the part of Christ, the narrator, and the people. The passion is proclaimed by deacons or priests, or by lay readers. In the latter case, the part of the Christ should be reserved to the priest.” (Paschale Solemnitatis 33)

I’m sure the sung Passion was beautiful, but it seems a shame to have used a setting that none of the priests were able (?) to sing. It wasn’t really proper to do that, because (whether they realize it or not) they put the words at the service of the music (that is, used what seems to be an exclusively choral setting for the Passion which should include an ordained minister taking part), rather than the music at the service of the words (choosing a setting which honors the liturgical place of the Passion while highlighting the words).