I'm delighted that the choirs of my two parishes will be chanting them this evening as we venerate the cross.
The beautiful and moving text of the reproaches follows:
My people, what have I done to you?The reproaches are especially powerful if remembered tomorrow evening during the Service of Light at the beginning of - what Saint Augustine called - "the mother of all holy vigils" which bears much of the Old Testament foreshadowings mentioned in the reproaches.
How have I offended you? Answer me!
I led you out of Egypt, from slavery to freedom,
but you led your Savior to the cross.
My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you? Answer me!
Holy is God!
Holy and strong!
Holy immortal One, have mercy on us!
For forty years I led you safely through the desert.
I fed you with manna from heaven
and brought you to a land of plenty;
but you led your Savior to the cross.
Holy is God!
Holy and strong!
Holy immortal One, have mercy on us!
What more could I have done for you?
I planted you as my finest vine,
but you yielded only bitterness:
when I was thirsty you gave me vinegar to drink,
and you peirced your Savior with a lance.
Holy is God!
Holy and strong!
Holy immortal One, have mercy on us!
For you sake I scourged your captors and their firstborn sons,
but you brought your scourges down on me.
My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you? Answer me!
I led you from slavery from freedom
and drowned your captors in the sea,
but you handed me over to your high priests.
My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you? Answer me!
I opened the sea before you,
but you opened my side with a spear.
My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you? Answer me!
I led you on your way in a pillar of cloud,
but you led me to Pilate's court.
My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you? Answer me!
Father,
ReplyDeleteI first encountered The Reproaches at St. Francis de Sales Oratory in St. Louis last year. I have since then been bewildered as to why we don't do them any more. Usually it is "Were You There?" or something like that which is sung.
I first encountered an excerpted version of the reproaches in the text our Stations of the Cross. I thought it was powerful. (Since then we have new SoC booklets, and I had forgotten about it.) I'd love to hear your choirs.
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