The congregation as the crowds in the passion

[Ahlman]

Traditionally, there are just three different parts (+, I and II) in the proclamation of the passion of Jesus at Palm Sunday and Good Friday. But I have seen than in many parishes (including EWTN), it has been seen fitting that the whole congregation would read the parts of II that consists of a crowd of people speaking. Even at the Palm Sunday Mass at St Peter Square a choire sings these parts instead of a deacon. So even if the Missal doesn’t mention any distinction between single speakers and crowds, it seems so be quite well accepted (and logical, not to say the least). But wouldn’t it technically be a liturgical abuse, if the Missal doesn’t say anything about it?

In any case, you need to mark specifically yourself the parts where the whole congregation are supposed to participate, or else they wouldn’t know when to speak and when just the lector that represents the single speakers are supposed to read. We tried this at my parish today, but unfortunately the congregation didn’t really get the distinction between single speakers and the crowd and read all of part II. Is this probably going to be revised in future editions of the Missal so that the distinction between single speakers and crowds will be clear?

 

[Phemie]

It depends where you live I guess. The Canadian Lectionary is divided into Narrator, Jesus, Speakers 1, 2 & 3. S2 is always done by the congregation.

Personally I’d rather hear it read through or only have Narrator, Jesus & one speaker. I hate having to follow along in the missalette to be able to do my part.

 

[strngrnrth]

For me, the crowds’ lines helped me pay attention.

 

[rick43235]

At the Good Friday liturgy today there were four parts: Jesus, Narrator, Speaker, and Chorus. The Congregation read the part of the Chorus. As someone already mentioned, it helped motivate me to follow along knowing that I had a speaking part.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

It hurts to shout “Crucify Him.” We would like to pretend that we would never say that, and ignore the fact that we say it each time we sin. It is a most useful lesson in humility.

 

[rick43235]

It hurts to shout “Crucify Him.”

Yes, it gave me a very uneasy feeling too.

 

[JReducation]

Traditionally, there are just three different parts (+, I and II) in the proclamation of the passion of Jesus at Palm Sunday and Good Friday. But I have seen than in many parishes (including EWTN), it has been seen fitting that the whole congregation would read the parts of II that consists of a crowd of people speaking. Even at the Palm Sunday Mass at St Peter Square a choire sings these parts instead of a deacon. So even if the Missal doesn’t mention any distinction between single speakers and crowds, it seems so be quite well accepted (and logical, not to say the least). But wouldn’t it technically be a liturgical abuse, if the Missal doesn’t say anything about it?

In any case, you need to mark specifically yourself the parts where the whole congregation are supposed to participate, or else they wouldn’t know when to speak and when just the lector that represents the single speakers are supposed to read. We tried this at my parish today, but unfortunately the congregation didn’t really get the distinction between single speakers and the crowd and read all of part II. Is this probably going to be revised in future editions of the Missal so that the distinction between single speakers and crowds will be clear?

I don’t know who publishes your missalette. The one that we have in our parish is clearly marked with symbols so that everyone knows what to read. It is not a liturgical abuse. It has been a liturgical practice since the Novus Ordo was put into place.

If you watched the Vatican’s Good Friday Liturgy, the Pope didn’t read at all. Usually, if there is a priest, he reads Jesus’ parts. Today the Deacon read Jesus’ parts. The rule was that the priest had to read, even if there was a Deacon. It was a back and forth between priest and deacon, not any longer. The priest doesn’t even have to preach or distribute communion, if there is a Deacon present.

The roles are clearly marked and defined in the sacramentary. Most lay people never see the sacramentary, except from a distance when the priest and deacon move it around the altar.

But good missalettes have the markings for each player in the passion. You may have a lousy publisher.

JR