The Improperia are a series of antiphons and responses, expressing the remonstrance of Jesus Christ with His people. Also known as the Reproaches, they are sung In the Catholic liturgy as part of the observance of the Passion, usually on the afternoon of Good Friday. In the Byzantine Rite, they are found in various hymns of Good Friday and Holy Saturday. The Improperia appear in the Pontificale of Prudentius (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.
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Roman Rite
In their present form in the Roman Rite, the Improperia are a series of three couplets, sung antiphonally 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? . . . ." Thus the Improperia begin with this couplet that includes parts of the Trisagion:
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 . . .":
After the last Improperium and its refrain, the hymns Crux fidelis and Pange lingua are sung.
Anglicanism
In the Anglican Church during the English Reformation, the Reproaches were suppressed by Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury when he authored the first Book of Common Prayer in the sixteenth century. However, the liturgical movement and the desire to connect with ancient liturgical traditions has led to some Provinces in the Anglican Communion to reintroduce the Reproaches. For example, the revisers of the 1989 Anglican Prayer Book in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa to reintroduce the Reproaches as “The Solemn Adoration of Christ Crucified.” The revisers of the Anglican Prayer Book have sought to downplay the historical anti-Semitism associated with the Reproaches. In the Anglican Church of Korea, the Reproaches (책망가) have been traditionally sung since the beginning during the Veneration of the Cross.
Lutheranism
In Lutheranism, the Reproaches are commonly chanted each Good Friday during the Tenebrae service. The Reproaches begin with the first of three exchanges between the pastor and congregation. The pastor 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 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 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 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 pastor 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 concludes:
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!