As we journey through Holy Week, the blog is taking a slightly different format with short reflections on Marcel Dupré’s Le chemin de la croix, a musical version of the Stations of the Cross. Instead of one reflection released on Wednesday, these episodes are to appear through the week from Palm Sunday until Good Friday.

Jésus console les filles d’Israël qui le suivent

Arguably, the line in Luke 23 :28 where Jesus says ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me’ would be more comforting if it were not followed by ‘but weep for yourselves and for your children.’ It is nevertheless with the description of comforting that the Stations of the Cross tradition labels this episode, and Dupré follows this label as much as the text in offering music which is a lot gentler on both organist and listener than almost any earlier part of the cycle. As music alone, this is welcome relief and variety. As theology, however, are we listening for the still present military trumpets in the background, and the slightly more steely edge to the reed stop which reaches through the foundation textures; maybe it is that stronger voice which warns us all that we ought to see ourselves in this passion, rather than pitying the one who takes suffering on Himself willingly for our sake.

Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi: quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisti mundum