The Passion Play begins with the reading of the first chapter of the Gospel According to St. John (“In the beginning there was the Word…”). In the darkened church, a spotlight focuses and continues to shine on Jesus as he triumphantly enters the city of Jerusalem followed by crowds of people carrying palms and crying out, “Hosanna to the Son of David!. Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord!”
The next scene opens at the Last Supper as Jesus identifies His betrayer Judas, predicts Peter’s denial and institutes the Eucharist in the giving of His Body and Blood in the physical appearances of bread and wine.
The Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane follows as Jesus is interiorly tortured by the horrors of the agonies he must face to the point of sweating drops of blood as His disciples sleep. Judas steps forward and betrays his Master with a kiss. Jesus is taken by the soldiers and the guard of the Temple and led away to the procurator Pilate. His disciples flee in terror.
In the following scene inside the Roman Praetorium, Pilate finds no grounds in the accusations of the chief priests and scribes, but to try to appease them, he has Jesus taken out to be scourged. The scene shifts to the area behind the courtyard as we hear the crack of the lashes and see Jesus mockingly crowned with thorns bt the Roman Soldiers.
The scene then shifts back inside the Praetorium. The chief priests and scribes have convinced the people to release the rioter and insurrectionist Barabbas. Thus, afraid of further violence and possible compromise of his position in the Roman Empire over a local affair, Pilate condemns Jesus to death and hands him over.
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Pie Jesu
As the women who accompanied Jesus including His own mother Mary look upon the Body, we hear the ancient and haunting invocation of the Latin Requiem Mass, the Pie Jesu.
(“Pity on us, Lord, Who takest away the sins of the world, grant them rest. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world; grant them eternal rest.”)
As the women who accompanied Jesus including His own mother Mary look upon the Body, we hear the ancient and haunting invocation of the Latin Requiem Mass, the Pie Jesu.
(“Pity on us, Lord, Who takest away the sins of the world, grant them rest. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world; grant them eternal rest.”)
Removal from the Cross
The Body of Jesus is removed from the Cross by the soldiers and placed with His mother, Mary.
The Body of Jesus is removed from the Cross by the soldiers and placed with His mother, Mary.
The Way of the Cross
In the darkened church, Jesus emerges with the heavy cross on His back, a spotlight focused on Him on His way to the Place of the Skull. We see him fall, the lashes raining down on Him until he gets up and resumes His journey.
In the darkened church, Jesus emerges with the heavy cross on His back, a spotlight focused on Him on His way to the Place of the Skull. We see him fall, the lashes raining down on Him until he gets up and resumes His journey.
Crucifixion and Death
After His final utterance, “Into Your Hands I commend My Spirit!” Jesus dies with a spotlight closing on Him into darkness. Lightning begins to flash, the wind whips and a great storm comes upon the scene pronouncing His death to all.
After His final utterance, “Into Your Hands I commend My Spirit!” Jesus dies with a spotlight closing on Him into darkness. Lightning begins to flash, the wind whips and a great storm comes upon the scene pronouncing His death to all.
The Pieta
As Mary cradles the Head of her beloved Son on her lap, we hear the strains of an ancient choral chant of the prayer Ave Maria (“Hail, Mary”)
As Mary cradles the Head of her beloved Son on her lap, we hear the strains of an ancient choral chant of the prayer Ave Maria (“Hail, Mary”)
One Solitary Life
The church is in total darkness after Jesus’ body had been removed. Then, a narrator begins to recite the poem One Solitary Life. As narrator continues, a tiny spotlight focuses on the altar, its beam expanding very slowly in size as the sound of the background music swells. Finally, the risen Lord Jesus is revealed as in the Third Day, Easter Sunday.
The church is in total darkness after Jesus’ body had been removed. Then, a narrator begins to recite the poem One Solitary Life. As narrator continues, a tiny spotlight focuses on the altar, its beam expanding very slowly in size as the sound of the background music swells. Finally, the risen Lord Jesus is revealed as in the Third Day, Easter Sunday.
The Passion Play is presented each year by the youth of our parish and is directed and staged by our pastor, Father Patrick J. West.
