PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION A Lectionary #37A, 38A
Although the liturgical planners want us to focus on the Passion narrative as the center of this celebration, people tend to focus more on the procession with palms as the “gate” to the Triduum. In our planning, we might want to think about ways of making the palm procession a strong ritual, while at the same time finding ways to highlight the Passion narrative and, this year, Matthew's unique interpretation of the meaning of Jesus’ death. Remember, too, for people who will not take part in the Good Friday Liturgy, this is the only account of the Passion they will hear this year, so it should be proclaimed well and in its entirety.
Opening Antiphon and Procession
Matthew 21:1-11. Because Matthew's community had a strong Jewish-Christian membership, this Gospel seeks to show how Jesus fulfills the expectations of the prophets for a messiah. The author also tells the story of the Passion in such a way as to show that Jesus is in charge of his own destiny, as when he sends the disciples for the ass and colt.
All Glory, Laud and Honor WOR 428/LMGM 30/CBW 62/GP 356/BB/WC 546/JS 399/GC 402/GC2 421/RS 563/WS/PMB 244/SS/LPGG 810
Benedictus Qui Venit WOR 429
Blessings on the King GP 357
He Is King of Kings LMGM 86/WOR 498
Hosanna GC 403/GC2 423, 425/CBW 59, 60, 61/BB/RS 969/GP 358/JS 396, 397/WS/PMB 595/PRM B26/LPGG 808/BFW 101/PSL A-44/SS
Hosanna in Excelsis WOR 430
Hosanna, Son of God WC 537/PMB 243
Palm Sunday Procession BB
Palm Sunday Processional GC 420
Ride On, Jesus, Ride GC 405/GC2 424/LMGM 264/RS 562
Ride On, King Jesus GP 359/JS 398/BB
Ride On! Ride On in Majesty PMB 245/WC 543
Sing Hosanna to Our King WS
The Children of Jerusalem BB/PMB 596, 597/PRM A22, A23
The Children of the Hebrews BFW 104/SS
The King of Glory (refrain only) WOR 501/GP 423/MI‑BB/WC 719/JS 487/GC 486/GC2 494/RS 628/WS
Mass of Palm Sunday of the Passion
Isaiah 50:4-7. There are several passages in the later chapters of Isaiah that are called the “songs of the servant,” in which the speaker seems to be the whole people Israel, whose sufferings bring salvation, or a particular individual whose pain leads to salvation for the people. Here is the third “song of the servant,” in which the speaker reflects on experiences suffered by slaves or conquered prisoners. Even in such sufferings, the servant knows that God is present.
Psalm of the Day: Ps (21) 22
The lament of someone who has lost everything, even clothes, to evildoers. It is clear why the early Church saw references to Jesus in the description of pierced hands and feet. Once more, even in the midst of such suffering, the psalmist sings of trust in God's presence.
Dios Mío (Alturas) FYC 180
Dios Mío, Dios Mío (Grajeda) GP 176
Dios Mío, Dios Mío/My God, My God (Hurd) FYC 181/JS 21
Dios Mío, Dios Mío/My God, My God (Schiavone) FYC 182
My God, My God PSL A-45/SS
My God, My God (Alstott) JS 22/BB
My God, My God (Guimont) GC2 892/LPMG 38
My God, My God (Harbor) LMGM 513
My God, My God (Haugen) GC 29/GC2 22/PCY1 30/RS 43
My God, My God (Isele) LMGM 514
My God, My God (Manion) MI‑BB/GP 175
My God, My God (Peloquin) SI 44
My God, My God (Proulx) WC 384/WS/PMB 140, 598/PRM A24
My God, My God (Schiavone) JS 918/SP3 10/GP 177/MI‑BB/LP 49
My God, My God (Schoen/Gelineau) WOR 806/RS 42/LPGG 811
My God, My God (Vervoort/Murray) CBW 63
My God, My God (Willcock) PFS 20/SS
Palm Sunday Psalm (Hughes) CCS 2329
Philippians 2:6-11. The “kenosis” (“emptying”) hymn is probably a hymn of the early Church adapted slightly by Paul (he probably added one line). It sings of how Jesus deliberately “emptied himself” and “humbled himself” for our sake. In his emptiness, God rewarded him and exalted him, so it is right to sing praise to Jesus’ name and especially to God.
Matthew 26:14–27:66. In Matthew's account, Jesus is in charge of his own destiny. He knows what will happen, and he even takes certain actions “that the writings of the prophets may be fulfilled.”
LITURGICAL NOTE: If you intend to read the Passion Narrative in parts, the traditional division is threefold: narrator, Christ, and crowd (all other voices). Some communities expand the number of voices, though it is probably not a good idea to give the congregation the “people's part” of this narrative, because that puts them in an adversarial relationship to Jesus. Instead, they should experience themselves as sharing not only in the sin that led to Jesus’ death but also in his act of self-sacrifice to which they will soon join themselves once more in the Eucharist. Therefore, it might be good to proclaim this reading with the traditional three readers (which helps to hold attention). Some parishes interrupt the reading at several points for a sung acclamation by the people: Some appropriate acclamations are included in the list below. Consider these four points for singing an appropriate brief acclamation: just before Jesus and the disciples go to Gethsemani; just after Peter's denial, when he weeps bitterly; just after Jesus is led off to crucifixion, but before he meets Simon the Cyrenian; and at the end of the narrative.
Other Songs for the Liturgy
Adoramus Te Christe (2) GC 396/GC2 400/RS 542/SS
All You Who Pass This Way (G) WOR 440/GC 421/RS 567
*At the Name of Jesus (2) CBW 427/WOR 499/MI‑BB/GP 424/JS 400, 483/WS
Behold, before Our Wond=ring Eyes (G) JS 381/BB
Behold the Lamb of God (1) JS 809/GP 360/BB/GC 823/GC2 824
Behold the Wood (G) GP 369/CBW 379/GC 420/GC2 437/JS 411/BB
Calvary (G) LMGM 38/GC 419/RS 568
Crux Fidelis (2,G) PMB 247/WC 751/WS
*Do This in Remembrance of Me (G) WC 645
Down at the Cross (G) LMGM 46
Glory in the Cross (G) JS 523/MI-BB
He Will Remember Me LMGM 36
How Long, O Lord? (Ps) GP 353/MI-BB
I Will Not Die JS 658/MI‑BB 616/GC 657/RS 771/GP 716
*If I Must Drink This Cup (C) PSL A-46/SS
In the Cross of Christ (2) GC2 436/RS 221/SS
Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross (G) LMGM 45
*Jesus the Lord (2) GP 370/JS 484/GC 418/GC2 403/MI‑BB/CBW 432/RS 574
Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley (G) WOR 427/PMB 242/JS 387/WC 529/RS 557/WS
Keep in Mind (G) PMB 36/WC 802/MI‑BB/GC 674/GC2 658/RS 940/GP 492/JS 589/WS/SS
Lift High the Cross (G) WOR 704/CBW 435/GP 444/MI‑BB/PMB 393/WC 748/JS 522/GC 791/GC2 785/RS 884/WS/SS
Lord, We Adore You (1,G) JS 413
My Song Is Love Unknown (G) WOR 439/JS 415/RS 572
No Greater Love GC 628/GC2 607/BB/CBW 599/RS 753/GP 362/SS
Now We Remain (2) GC 694/GC2 696/MI‑BB/WC 640/RS 813/WS/SS
O Cross of Christ CBW 368/PMB 248/WC 752/SS
O Crucified Messiah (G) BB
O Love of God Incarnate (G) JS 410
*O Lowly Lamb of God Most High (2) SS
O Sacred Head, Surrounded (1,G) WOR 434/LMGM 52/CBW 378/GP 367/BB/PMB 255/WC 547/JS 409/GC 415/GC2 435/RS 569/WS/SS
Only This I Want (2) GC 695/GC2 701/GP 575/JS 766/CBW 516/MI‑BB
Ours Were the Griefs He Bore (G) BB
*Philippians Canticle (2) WOR 92
*Psalm of Hope (Ps) RS 730
Sing, My Tongue, the Savior's Glory (G) JS 414/BB
Sing, My Tongue, the Song of Triumph (G) RS 573/WOR 437/CBW 69
*Take and Eat (G) GC 831/GC2 812/WC 648/CBW 611/RS 910/WS/SS
Take Up Your Cross (2) WOR 634//CBW 485/MI-BB/LMGM 50/GC 698/GC2 688, 690/JS 524/PMB 238/WC 750/RS 808/GP 586/WS/SS
*Though in the Form of God (2) CBW 687
Tree of Life GC 397/GC2 401/CBW 373/RS 541/SS
Unless a Grain of Wheat JS 760, 802/MI‑BB/GC 697/GC2 699/RS 804/GP 579
Up to Jerusalem (G) PMB 246/WC 536
We Acclaim the Cross of Jesus (G) PMB 252/WC 754/WS
We Have No Glory JS 671
We Remember GC 593/GC2 578/MI‑BB/WC 653/RS 724/WS/SS
We Should Glory in the Cross (G) JS 686
We Who Once Were Dead CBW 402
Were You There (G) LMGM 43/WOR 436/GC 416/GC2 438/JS 412/PMB 250/WC 544/BB 158/GP 368/RS 570/WS/SS
What Wondrous Love Is This (2,G) WOR 600/GP 642/MI‑BB/PMB 253/WC 713/JS 755/GC 406b,627/GC2 614/RS 749/WS/SS
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (G) WOR 433/CBW 382/BB/PMB 249/WC 753/JS 417
When Jesus Wept (G) JS 418/BB
*Wood of the Cross (Ps) JS 407/BB
| Title of Anthem, Voicing & Instrumentation | Composer/arranger/editor | Publisher & edition # | |
| Adoramus Te | Gasparini | Belwin | |
| Adoramus Te Christe | Clemens Non Papa | GIA | |
| Adoramus Te Christe | Dubois | GIA | |
| Adoramus Te Christe (Three Communion Anthems) | Near | Aureole Ed. | |
| All Glory, Laud and Honor (SATB, opt. keyboard or 10 handbells, perc.) | Proulx, Richard | GIA (G-2915) | E |
| All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name DIADEM (2-part Mixed Voices, Organ, opt. Trumpet) | Johnson, Dennis R. | GIA (G-5887) | 2 |
| An Hosanna Fanfare | Nestor, Leo | E. C. Schirmer (Two Miniatures for Holy Week) | |
| Antiphonal Hosanna (2-part, organ) | Smith, G. Alan | Hope Publishing (F973) | P |
| Antiphonal Hosanna (2-part) | Leavitt | Hal Leonard | |
| At the Name of Jesus (SATB, organ) At the Name of Jesus (SA, organ) |
Langlais, Jean Willan, Healy |
Hinshaw (HMC 423) Concordia (97-7160) |
2 |
| Ave Verum Verum | F. Peeters | Schwann | |
| Behold the Lamb of God (SA) | Bouman | Concordia | |
| Blessed Is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord (SATB, Unison children's, keyboard) |
Carter, John |
Augsburg (11-74510) |
P |
| Christ Became Obedient (SATB, keyboard/organ, Latin/English) Christ Became Obedient (SATB, keyboard/organ, Latin only) Christ Hath Humbled Himself in “We Praise Thee,” Vol. I (2-part, organ) |
Anerio, Felice Anerio, Felice Willan, Healy |
GIA (G-1967) Alexander Broude (ABC 32) Concordia |
2 |
| Christ Jesus Lord, Thy Name Adored in “Three German Motets” (SATB, English/German) | Praetorius, Michael/Guentner, S.J., Francis J. | Augsburg (11-10089) | 2 |
| Christus Factus Est (SATB, Latin only) Christus Factus Est (SATB, keyboard/organ, Latin only) Christus Factus Est (SATB, keyboard/organ, Latin/English) Christus Factus Est (SATB, keyboard/organ, Latin/English) Christus Factus Est |
Bruckner, Anton Bruckner, Anton/Barlow, Stephen Bruckner, Anton/Klein, Maynard Bruckner, Anton Bruckner, Anton |
Arista (AE-157) Walton (2161) G. Schirmer Summy Birchard (5249) Peters |
2 |
| Christus Factus Est | Morago | Aureole Editions / MS | |
| Christus Factus Est | Anerio | Tetra Music Corp. | |
| Christus Factus Est | Daley | Alliance Music Publications | |
| Christus Factus Est (SAB) Christus Factus Est in “Geistliche Gesang Für Männerchor (TTBB) |
Durante, Francesco Palestrina, G. P. |
Arista (AE 275) Oratoriumsverlag |
2 |
| Christus Factus Est (SATB) Crucifixus from “Mass in B Minor” (SATB) Crucifixus |
Zingarelli, Miccolo/Kaplan, A. Bach, J. S. Bach, J. S./Churchill |
Lawson-Gould (51428) E. C. Schirmer (1174) Bourne Co. (750) |
2 |
| Ehre Sei Dir Christe (SATB) | Schütz, Heinrich | G. Schirmer (10123) | G |
| Entrance into Jerusalem and Hymn | Proulx, Richard | Oxford | |
| Fanfare for Palm Sunday (SATB, organ) | Proulx, Richard | GIA (G-2829) | P |
| Fanfare Hosanna | W.B.Roberts | Paraclete Press | |
| For Our Sake (SATB, Keyboard) | Hughes, S.M., Howard L. | World Library (8525) | 2 |
| Gethesemane Prayer (SATB, opt. Flute or Bells) |
Honoré, Jeffrey |
Augsburg (11-10327) | C |
| God So Loved the World | B. Chilcott | OUP | |
| God So Loved the World | Stainer | ||
| He is Coming (Unison, keyboard) | Delmonte, Pauline | Choristers Guild (CGA 142) | E |
| Hosanna (Unison) Hosanna Hosanna (SATB, keyboard) |
Gregor, Christian Lance Pote, Allen |
Choristers Guild (CGA 301) Concordia * Choristers Guild (CGA 596) |
P |
| Hosanna (SATB, organ) Hosanna Filio David (SATB) |
Rudolph, Glenn Victoria, Tomas Luis de |
GIA (G-3980) GIA (G-4574) |
P |
| Hosanna Filio David | N. Farrell | Green Bushes Publishing | P |
| Hosanna in the Highest “Sanna, Sannanina” combined Unison & SATB Choirs with piano and opt. perc. Hosanna in the Highest (SATB, opt children's choir, perc., keyboard) |
Hopson, Hal H. Music, David W. |
Choristers Guild (CGA 936) Concordia (98-2797) |
P |
| Hosanna to the Son (Unison, keyboard, opt 3-4 oct. handbells) Hosanna to the Son of David in “Oxford Tudor Anthems, p. 99 (SATB) |
Lindh, Jody Gibbons, Orlando |
Choristers Guild (CGA 606) Oxford H. W. Gray (GCMR 2367) |
P |
| Hosanna to the Son of David (SATB) Hosanna to the Son of David (SSATB) |
Ossewarde, J. H. Praetorius, Michael |
Boosey & Hawkes (5528) | P |
| Hosanna to the Son of David (SATB) Hosanna to the Son of David (SATB) |
Victoria, Tomas Luis de Willan, Healy |
Concordia (98-1993) Concordia (98-1016) |
P |
| Hosanna to the Son of David | A. Hutchings | Novello | P |
| Hosanna to the Son of David | C. Schalk | Concordia (Scenes from the New Testament) | |
| Hosanna to the Son of David (SSA, SATB) | Sr. M. Cherubim | School Sisters of St. Francis, Milwaukee | |
| Improperium(Unison or 2-part) | Robinson | Presser | |
| In Manus Tua (SATB, Latin only) | Novello, Vincent | H. W. Gray (CMR 3147) | G |
| In Manus Tua (SATB, Latin only) In Manus Tua (SATBB, keyboard/organ) |
Shephed, John Tallis, Thomas/Ehret, Walter |
J & W Chester (JWC 55103) Walton (6028) |
G |
| In Nomine Jesu, (SATB) In Nomine Jesu (TTBB) In Nomine Jesu (SATB, Latin/English) |
Gallus, Jacobus Gallus, Jacobus/Collins, W. Handl/Jacob/Herter, J. |
Concordia (98-1051) Lawson-Gould (51203) GIA (G-1860) |
2 |
| Lenten Love Song, A (Unison, Piano) | Kemp, Helen | Choristers Guild (CGA 486) | C |
| Let This Mind Be in You (SATB, organ) | Butler, Eugene | Carl Fischer (CM 8258) | 2 |
| Lift Up the Gates (SAT(B), keyboard) | Patterson, Mark | Choristers Guild (CGA 984) | E |
| Lift Up Your Heads (SSATB, organ) | Amner, John/Greening, Anthony | Oxford (A-291) | E |
| Lift Up Your Heads (SATB/SATB, 3 tpts, organ) | Berger, Jean | Carl Fischer (CM-7866) | E |
| Lift Up Your Heads (SATB, organ) | Summy Birchard (SUMCO 5484) | E | |
| Lift Up Your Heads (SATB, Strings, organ) | Blow, John/Shaw, Watkins | Novello (NECM 17) | E |
| Lift Up Your Heads (Unison, keyboard, opt. handbells) | Marshall, Jean | Hinshaw (HMC 972) | E |
| Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates (SSAATB, opt organ) | Gibbons, Orlando | Oxford (TCM 41) | E |
| Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates (SATB, organ) | Mathias, William | Oxford (42.380) | E |
| Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates (SSA, keyboard) | Willan, Healy | Concordia (97-7160) | E |
| Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates | W. Mathias | OUP | |
| Lift Up Your Heads, O You Gates (2-part mixed, continuo) | Scheidt, Samuel | Concordia (98-3763) | E |
| Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Gates (SSATBB, Continuo) | Hammerschmidt, A./Rotermund, Donald | Concordia (98-2279) | E |
| Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates (SATB, organ) | Willan, Healy | Concordia (98-2003) | E |
| Lord Jesus Christ Humbled Himself (SATB) | Messaus, Guilleimus/Proulx, Richard | GIa (G-3791) | 2 |
| Lord, Whose Passion Didst Reveal | Franck/Sateren | AMSI * | |
| My God, My God, Look Upon Me (SATB, organ/keyboard) | Blow, John/Hickok, R. | Broude Brothers (BB 903) | PS |
| My God, My God, Look Upon Me (SSATB, Tenor Solo, organ) | Green, Maurice/Young, P. | Broude Brothers (MGC 29) | PS |
| My God, My God, Why Has Thou Forsaken Me? (SATB, organ) | Near, Gerald | H. W. Gray (CMR 3208) | PS |
| My God, My God (SATB, cantor, organ) | Peloquin, C. Alexander | GIA (G-1658) | PS |
| My God, My God, O Lord, My God (SATB) | Schütz, Heinrich | Concordia (97-6303U31) | PS |
| My God, My God, Why Dost Thou Now Forsake Me? (SATB) | Callahan, Charles | Concordia (98-2975) | PS |
| My God, My God, Why Has Thou Forsaken Me? (SATB, organ) | Wetzler, Robert | Abingdon (APM 347) | PS |
| My God, Why Do You Now Forsake Me? (SATB, Organ/Keyboard) | Callahan, Charles | Concordia (98-2975U31) | PS |
| My Song is Love Unknown | E. Childs | MS | |
| O Bone Jesu (Three Communion Anthems) | Near | Aureole Ed. | |
| O Domine Jesu Christe: adoro te in cruce vulneratum in “Chester Motets (SATB) | di Vittoria, Orlando/Petti, E. | T. W. Chester | G |
| O Vos Omnes (SATB) | Jommelli, Niccolo | Belwin Mills (OCT 2474) | G |
| O Vos Omnes (SATB) | Casals, Pablo | Broude (AB 128) | G |
| O Vos Onmes (SATB) | Victoria, Thomas Luis de | E. C. Schirmer (1173) | G |
| O Vos Onmes in “Seven More Motets for Occasional Use” (SATB) | Victoria, Thomas Luis de/Klein,M. | GIA (G-1495) | G |
| Palm Sunday Processional (4 voices in canon, 2 flutes, 3 trumpets, timpani, 10 handbells, keyboard) | Smith, G. Alan | GIA (G-2461) | P |
| Ride On, King Jesus (SATB) | Fleming, L. L. (arr.) | Augsburg (11-0541) | P |
| Ride On! Ride On in Majesty (SATB, organ) Ride On! Ride On in Majesty (SATB, organ) |
Benson, Robert A. Darst, W. Glen |
Augsburg (11-74634) H. W. Gray (CMR 2120) |
P |
| Saw Ye My Savior | Johnson | Augsburg | |
| Saw Ye My Savior | Nestor, Leo | E. C. Schirmer | |
| See Now the Lamb of God | Homilius | Concordia | |
| Sing Hosanna, (SAB, organ) | Leavitt, John | Concordia (98-3657) | P |
| Solus Ad Victimam | K. Leighton | OUP | |
| Sureley He Hath Borne Our Griefs | Graun | Concordia | |
| Sureley He Hath Borne Our Griefs | Copley | Augsburg/Fortress | |
| Tenebrae Factae Sunt (SATB, Latin only) | Croce, Giovanni | Arista (AE 181) | G |
| Tenebrae Factae Sunt (SATB, Latin/English) | Haydn, Michael/Ramsey, William | Boonin (B 148) | G |
| Tenebrae Factae Sunt (SSA) | Haydn, Michael/Pauley, R. G. | G. Schirmer | G |
| Tenebrae Factae Sunt (SATB) | Ingegneri, Marc Antonio | National Music Pub. (NMP 140) | G |
| Tenebrae Factae Sunt in “Motetten Alter Meister” (SATB) | Palestrina, G. P. | Merseberger | G |
| Tenebrae Factae Sunt (SAATTB) | Poulenc, Francis | Salabert (Sal. 18) | G |
| Tenebrae Factae Sunt (SATB or TTBB) | Victoria, Thomsa Louis de/Turner, B. | J & W. Chester (8813C) | G |
| They Crucified My Lord (SATB) | Carter, John | Hope (JC 316) | G |
| Vere Langoures Nostros (SATB) | Victoria, Thomas Luis de | Roger Dean (HRD 360) | G |
| Verse for Good Friday | Vieregge | Concordia | |
| Way to Jerusalem, The | Friedell | H. W. Gray | |
| We Adore You, O Christ (SATB) | Proulx, Richard | Paraclete Press (PPM09836) | 2 |
| What Wondrous Love (SATB, flute, opt. keyboard/organ) | Melby, James (arr.) | Concordia (98-2635) | G |
| When I Survey the Wondrous Cross | Stiver | Shelah | |
| When I Survey the Wondrous Cross | Archer | Mayhew | |
| When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (SATB, organ) When Jesus Wept (SATB, organ) |
Martin, Gilbert Martin, Gilbert |
Presser (312-40785) Sacred Music Press (S-498) |
G |
| Wondrous Love | Christiansen | Augsburg |
* out of print