Crown of Thorns – Good Friday Music Reflection

At noon on Good Friday, April 18, all are invited to attend Crown of Thorns presented by the Adoramus Ecumenical Choir. This musical reflection on the passion and death of Christ has moving music by Danielle Rose, Joseph Martin, Victor Johnson, Allen Pote, Deborah Govenor, and Geoff Weaver. Between the pieces of music, there will be readings from Scripture and opportunities for contemplative prayer.

The reflection is all about the love that Christ has for us. Beginning with Allen Pote’s “For God So Loved the World” taken from John 3:16, we hear of the Father’s love. The music quickly moves to the love Christ has for us in an arrangement of “What Wondrous Love is This” by Geoff Weaver. We move to the upper room where Christ makes his love manifest in the institution of the Eucharist in singing Deborah Govenor’s “Remember Me”. Darkness falls as we move to the Garden of Gethsemane with Joseph Martin’s “A Shadow Fell on Sharon’s Rose”. We then arrive at the centerpiece of the reflection: “Crown of Thorns” by Danielle Rose. Her piece tells the story of Christ’s passion from the viewpoint of the rose bush which is plucked to make Jesus’s crown. Second only to Jesus’s love for us is Mary’s love. In this special year for OLC, the next piece is titled “Pietà” and gives us a view from Mary’s perspective. The reflection finishes with a moving setting of Isaiah 53:4 by Victor Johnson: “Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs”.

Directed and accompanied by Anthony Gallina, Director of Music Ministries at Our Lady of Consolation, the Adoramus Choir is an ensemble comprised of members of Christian churches of many denominations. All are welcome to come and listen to the music of this most sacred and somber day in the stunning acoustics of the historic Basilica and Shrine.