1. The Way of sorrow of Our Lord Jesus The improperia of Good Friday ( Reproaches of the Lord )
2. The improperia These are the reproaches that Jesus addresses to his people. It is He, Jesus, who is the center of the scene. Let us remember that his people represents here the whole of humanity. It is to all of us, that the One who is «unrecognized Love» addresses his sorrowful complaint. From what Egypt has he not let us out ? With what manna did he not feed us ? To which promised land did he not bring us ? And often, does he not find in us an ungratefulness which is beyond everything ? Jesus reprimands only to urge us to repent, and always he uses towards us of an extreme delicacy, with the sensitiveness of love that desires mercifulness more than sacrifice . POPULE MEUS : It is the refrain of all the IMPROPERIA : My people, what have I done to you ? How have I offended you ? ANSWER ME The tone is not one of reproach ; but one penetrated with great tenderness ! It is Jesus meek and humble of heart who sings all along this slide show. Dom L. Baron osb (Abbaye de Kergonan)
3. Jesus is sentenced to death I have led you on your way in a pillar of cloud : but you led me to Pilate's court. We worship your Cross Lord Jesus Answer me O my people , what have I done to you ? How have I offended you?
4. Jesus receives his Cross Réponds-moi For your sake, I scourged your captors and their firstborn sons but you brought your scourges down on me. We worship your Cross Lord Jesus O my people , what have I done to you ? How have I offended you?
5. Jesus falls for the first time I led you from slavery to freedom and downed your captors in the sea : but you handed me over to your high priests. We worship your Cross Lord Jesus Answer me O my people , what have I done to you ? How have I offended you?
6. God is Holy ! Holy and strong ! Holy , immortal One , have mercy on us !
7. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his Cross We worship your Cross Lord Jesus I opened the sea before you , but you opened my side with a spear. Answer me O my people , what have I done to you ? How have I offended you?
8. Answer me Véronica wipes Jesus' face We worship your Cross Lord Jesus I have given you the water of salvation from the rock ; but in my thirst you have given me gall and vinegar. O my people , what have I done to you ? How have I offended you?
9. Answer me Jesus meets his Mother Did I lead you out of Egypt ... ... for you to prepare a Cross for your Savior ? We worship your Cross Lord Jesus O my people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you?
10. Jesus falls for the second time I fed you with manna in the desert : you have beaten me and scourged me . We worship your Cross Lord Jesus O my people , what have I done to you ? How have I effended you ? Answer me
11. Jesus comforts the women of Jerusalem We worship your Cross Lord Jesus Because of you I destroyed the kings of Canaan ; you struck my head with a reed . O my people , what have I done to you ? How have I offended you ? Answer me
12. Jesus falls for the third time We woeship your Cross Lord Jesus I have given you a royal sceptre: you have placed a crown of thorns on my head. Answer me O my people , what have I done to you ? How have I offended you ?
13. God is Holy ! Holy and strong ! Holy , immortal One , Have mercy on us !
14. Jesus is nailed to the Cross We worship your Cross Lord Jesus Answer me O my people , what have I done to you ? How have I offended you ? I fed you with manna. I have led you during forty years in the desert. Is this the reason why you have prepared a Cross for your Savior?
15. O my people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Jesus dies on the Cross I have exalted you with great might you have hanged me on the Rood of the Cross. Answer me We woeship your Cross Lord Jesus
16. God is Holy ! Holy and strong ! Holy immortal One , have mercy on us !
17. Jesus is given back to his Mother We woeship your Cross Lord Jesus Answer me O my people , what have I done to you ? How have I offended you ?
18. Jesus is laid in the tomb What should I have done for you , that I have not done ? When I was thirsty you gave me vinegar to drink and with a spear you opened the side of your Savior We woeship your Cross Lord Jesus O my people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me
19. Disgrace and anguish have penetrated my heart, I have waited for someone to come and share my suffering, and no one has come. They fed me with gall, and when I was thirsty they served me vinegar. O faithful Cross , incomparable tree , Gentle wood , with a gentle nail , to support so gentle a burden ! I have looked for a comforter and did not find one .
20. This is the wood of the Cross, on which the Savior of the world hung . We worship your Cross Lord , we praise and glorify your holy Resurrection , because through this wood you brought JOY to the world .
21. www.sm2m.ca [email_address] Chant : The Benedictine Monks of the Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes (The improperia of Good Friday) MONTAGE : The Benedictine Moniales of the Abbaye Sainte-Marie des Deux-Montagnes (Canada) Good Friday 2007 Designs : a Moniale of the Abbey Texts : Celebration of the Mystery of the Cross on Good Friday A suivre...
