REPROACHES

Reproaches: translation

Chantsung during the Veneration of the Cross at the liturgy for Good Friday in the Roman Catholic rite. The refrain, sung to aMode1 melody, is:Popule meus, quid feci tibi?aut in quo contristavi{}te?responde mihi. ("My people, what have I done to you? How have I ever grieved you? Answer me.")

In the greater Reproaches this refrain is interwoven with texts recalling events of divine salvation, and the whole is alternated with theTrisagion.

In the lesser Reproaches the refrain is alternated simply with paired statements chanted as apsalm tone, each pair contrasting an instance of God’s kindness with man’s perfidy.