# Improperia > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Improperia > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Improperia.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improperia > Source revision: 1347687733 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Series of antiphons sung on Good Friday "Popule meus" redirects here. For the motet by Tomás Luis de Victoria, see [Popule meus (Victoria)](/source/Popule_meus_(Victoria)). Opening line of the [Gregorian](/source/Gregorian_chant) setting of the Improperia, with rubric, as found in the *[Liber Usualis](/source/Liber_Usualis)* The **Improperia** are a series of [antiphons](/source/Antiphon) and responses, expressing the remonstrance of [Jesus Christ](/source/Jesus_Christ) with his people.[1] Also known as the **Reproaches** or the **Solemn Reproaches**, they are sung in certain [Christian liturgies](/source/Christian_liturgy) (such as the Roman Catholic and Evangelical-Lutheran traditions) as part of the observance of the Passion, usually on the afternoon of [Good Friday](/source/Good_Friday).[2] In the [Byzantine Rite](/source/Byzantine_Rite), they are found in various hymns of Good Friday and [Holy Saturday](/source/Holy_Saturday). The Improperia appear in the Pontificale of [Prudentius](/source/Prudentius_of_Troyes) (846–61) and gradually came into use throughout Europe in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, finally being incorporated into the Roman Ordo in the fourteenth century.[3] ## Roman Rite In their present form in the [Roman Rite](/source/Roman_Rite), the Improperia are a series of three couplets, sung [antiphonally](/source/Antiphon) by cantors and followed by alternate Greek and Latin responses from the two halves of the choir; and nine other lines sung by the cantors, with the full choir responding after each with the refrain "Popule meus, quid feci tibi? ..." Besides the [Kyrie](/source/Kyrie), this is the only usage of the Greek language in the Roman Rite. Thus the Improperia begin with this couplet that includes parts of the [Trisagion](/source/Trisagion): Cantor 1: Popule meus, quid feci tibi? Aut in quo contristavi te? Responde mihi. Cantor 2: Quia eduxi te de terra Ægypti: parasti Crucem Salvatori tuo. Choir A: Hagios o Theos. Choir B: Sanctus Deus. Choir A: Hagios Ischyros. Choir B: Sanctus Fortis. Choir A: Hagios Athanatos, eleison hymas. Choir B: Sanctus Immortalis, miserere nobis. My people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me! I led you out of Egypt, from slavery to freedom, but you led your Saviour to the cross. Holy is God! Holy is God! Holy and strong! Holy and strong! Holy immortal One, have mercy on us. Holy immortal One, have mercy on us.[4] The second couplet is sung antiphonally by two cantors of the second choir, and the third couplet by two cantors of the first choir; after each the two choirs respond as above. The nine following reproaches are sung alternately by the cantors of each choir, beginning with the second, with the full choir responding after each reproach with the line, "Popule meus ...": Cantors 3 & 4: Ego propter te flagellavi Ægyptum cum primogenitis suis: et tu me flagellatum tradidisti. Choirs A & B: Popule meus, quid feci tibi? Aut in quo contristavi te? Responde mihi. Cantors 1 & 2: Ego eduxi te de Ægypto, demerso Pharaone in mare rubrum: et tu me tradidisti principibus sacerdotum. Choirs A & B: Popule meus, quid feci tibi? Aut in quo contristavi te? Responde mihi. For your 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 to freedom and drowned your captors in the red sea, but you handed me over to your high priests. My people ...[4] After the last Improperium and its refrain, the hymns *[Crux fidelis](/source/Crux_fidelis)* and *[Pange lingua](/source/Pange_lingua_gloriosi_proelium_certaminis)* are sung. [Improperia: Gregorian chant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Improperia.ogg) *Problems playing this file? See [media help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Media).* ## Lutheranism In [Lutheranism](/source/Lutheranism), the Reproaches are commonly chanted each Good Friday.[5] The Reproaches begin with the first of three exchanges between the priest/pastor and congregation. The priest/pastor or cantor begins: - Thus says the Lord: - "What have I done to you, O my people, - And wherein have I offended you? - Answer me. - For I have raised you up out of the prison house of sin and death, - "And you have delivered up your Redeemer to be scourged. - For I have redeemed you from the house of bondage, - And you have nailed your Savior to the cross. - O my people!" The congregation or choir responds: - Holy Lord God, - Holy and mighty God, - Holy and most merciful Redeemer; - God eternal, leave us not to bitter death. - O Lord, have mercy! The congregation then sings, - Lamb of God, pure and holy, Who on the cross didst suffer. - Ever patient and lowly, Thyself to scorn didst offer. - All sins Thou borest for us, else had dispair reigned o'er us, - Have mercy upon us, O Jesus, O Jesus. The pastor continues: - Thus says the Lord: - "What have I done to you, O my people, - And wherein have I offended you? - Answer me. - For I have conquered all your foes, - And you have given me over and delivered me to those who persecute me. - For I have fed you with my Word and refreshed you with living water, - And you have given me gall and vinegar to drink. - O my people!" The congregation or choir responds: - Holy Lord God, - Holy and mighty God, - Holy and most merciful Redeemer; - God eternal, allow us not to lose hope in the face of death and hell. - O Lord, have mercy! The congregation sings - Lamb of God, pure and holy, Who on the cross didst suffer. - Ever patient and lowly, Thyself to scorn didst offer. - All sins Thou borest for us, else had dispair reigned o'er us, - Have mercy upon us, O Jesus, O Jesus. The pastor or Kantor continues: - Thus says the Lord: - "What have I done to you, O my people, - And wherein have I offended you? - Answer me. - What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? - When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad? - My people, is this how you thank your God? - O my people!" The congregation or choir sings: - Holy Lord God, - Holy and mighty God, - Holy and most merciful Redeemer; - God eternal, keep us steadfast in the true faith. - O Lord, have mercy! The congregation sings, - Lamb of God, pure and holy, Who on the cross didst suffer. - Ever patient and lowly, Thyself to scorn didst offer. - All sins Thou borest for us, else had dispair reigned o'er us, - Thy peace be with us, O Jesus, O Jesus. ## Anglicanism During the [English Reformation](/source/English_Reformation), the Reproaches were suppressed by [Thomas Cranmer](/source/Thomas_Cranmer), [Archbishop of Canterbury](/source/Archbishop_of_Canterbury) when he authored the first [Book of Common Prayer](/source/Book_of_Common_Prayer) in the sixteenth century. However, the [liturgical movement](/source/Liturgical_movement) and the desire to connect with ancient liturgical traditions has led to some Provinces in the [Anglican Communion](/source/Anglican_Communion) to reintroduce the Reproaches. For example, the revisers of the 1989 Anglican Prayer Book of the [Anglican Church of Southern Africa](/source/Anglican_Church_of_Southern_Africa) to reintroduce the Reproaches as "The Solemn Adoration of Christ Crucified".[6] In many Anglican Good Friday Liturgies, the Reproaches are sung at the Veneration of the Cross. ## Reformed (Continental Reformed, Presbyterian, and Congregationalist) In the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Reproaches were incorporated in its 1993 Book of Common Worship, pp. 287–291 (Revised 2018). They are part of the Good Friday liturgy, and follow the Solemn Intercessions and Lord's Prayer. They may involve a rough-hewn cross carried in procession and placed before the worshipers, and thus begin, "Behold the cross on which was hung the salvation of the whole world." The people respond, "Come, let us worship." After the third repeat of this antiphonal call to worship, the reproaches begin. There are nine, each introduced by the congregation saying, "Holy God, Holy and mighty, Holy immortal One, have mercy upon us." and concluded with the congregation praying "Lord, have mercy." Though all nine can be read, they are chosen at the option of the liturgist. They can be followed by a psalm or hymn or other musical offering, and the congregation, thereafter, departs in silence. If used in the service of Friday Tenebrae, they are read at the end of the lessons, once only the Christ candle is still burning. At their end, the Christ candle is extinguished. Often a bell or chime is stuck 33 times in remembrance of Jesus' years, as the people sit in silence. Thereafter, the people depart in silence and darkness. ## Methodism The Reproaches are included in the [Methodist Church of Great Britain](/source/Methodist_Church_of_Great_Britain)'s liturgy for Good Friday [7] and in the [United Methodist Church](/source/United_Methodist_Church)'s Good Friday service.[8] They were included in the ritual of the American [Methodist Church](/source/Methodist_Church_(USA)), one of the predecessor denominations of the United Methodist Church, in its "Order of Worship for Good Friday Evening".[9] ## See also - [Christianity portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Christianity) - [Paschal Triduum](/source/Paschal_Triduum) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). ["Improperia"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Improperia). *[Catholic Encyclopedia](/source/Catholic_Encyclopedia)*. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** *The Reproaches for Good Friday*. Concordia Publishing House. 1989. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** d'Uzer, V, "The Jews in the Sixteenth-Century Homilies" in Wood, D (Ed) (1992) *Christianity and Judaism Studies in Church History*, Vol. 29 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-R_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-R_4-1) Rubrics, Latin text, and English translation from the Gregorian Missal, pp. 311–317, [Solesmes](/source/Solesmes_Abbey), 1990. The same, though without translation, will be found in the *[Liber Usualis](/source/Liber_Usualis)* (Latin text and English rubrics), pp. 737–41, Solesmes, 1961; the *[Graduale Romanum](/source/Roman_Gradual)* (Latin text and Latin rubrics), pp. 225–31, Solesmes, 1961; and elsewhere. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Improperia (The Reproaches)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130317152724/http://www.stpaulskingsville.org/improperia.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.stpaulskingsville.org/improperia.htm) on 17 March 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** An Anglican Prayer Book (1989) Church of the Province of Southern Africa 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (1999), *The Methodist Worship Book*, pp. 256–259 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** The United Methodist Publishing House (1992), *The United Methodist Book of Worship*, pp. 363–364. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** The United Methodist Publishing House (approved 1964, published 1965), *The Book of Worship for Church and Home*, pp. 109–110. ## External links - [Improperia (Latin version)](https://web.archive.org/web/20110708041039/http://guanaco17.blogspot.com/2008/03/improperia.html) - [Improperia (English version)](https://web.archive.org/web/20110708041220/http://guanaco17.blogspot.com/2008/03/reproaches-of-good-friday.html) - [Improperia (Gregorian and Byzantine performances)](http://www.carotta.de/satura.html) v t e Order of the Divine Service in Lutheranism Preparatory Service Entrance hymn and Trinitarian formula (known as the Invocation) Penitential Act including the Confiteor and Declaration of Grace (or Asperges on Easter) The Service of the Word Introit Gloria Patri Kýrie Gloria Dominus vobiscum Oremus Collect Old Testament reading gradual (or Responsorial Psalm) Epistle Alleluia (tract during Lent) Gospel Hymn of the day Homily or Postil (Sermon) Nicene Creed (Athanasian Creed on Trinity Sunday) Offertory Prayers of the Faithful The Service of the Eucharist Preface (Sursum corda / Sanctus / Hosanna) Eucharistic Prayer (Epiclesis / Words of Institution / Memorial Acclamation) Lord's Prayer Sign of peace / pax (elevation) Agnus Dei Distribution Nunc dimittis Postcommunion Benedicamus Domino Benediction Dismissal Ite, missa est Participants Acolyte bishop cantor choir crucifer deacon elder laity lector Pastor (or Priest) usher Parts of the Sanctuary altar altar bell altar crucifix altar rail kneeler piscina processional cross tabernacle Candles altar candle paschal candle sanctuary lamp 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of the Catechumens Iudica me Confiteor mea culpa Introit Kyrie Gloria in excelsis Deo Collect Lection Gradual Alleluia or Tract Sequentia Gospel Homily Mass of the Faithful Credo Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed Offertory Lavabo Orate fratres Secret Preface Sursum corda Sanctus Hosanna Roman Canon Oblation Epiclesis Words of Institution Anamnesis Elevation Doxology Pater Noster Embolism Pax Agnus Dei Dona nobis pacem Fraction Holy Communion Communion antiphon Ablutions Postcommunio Dismissal Ite, missa est or Benedicamus Domino Last Gospel Post-Mass Leonine prayers Recessional hymn For funeral Mass Dies irae Lacrimosa Pie Iesu Libera Me Requiescant in pace Absolution of the dead In paradisum De profundis Participants Acolyte altar server Bishop Boat boy Cantor or schola Crucifer Deacon Laity Lector Master of ceremonies Porter Priest Subdeacon Altar Altar cards Altar crucifix Altar rails Ambo Antependium Credence table Kneeler Lavabo Misericord Piscina Sacristy Tabernacle Altar cloths 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