GOOD FRIDAY (Veneration of the Cross) THE SEVEN LAST WORDS

When the church is stripped bare and the wooden cross is brought forward on Good Friday, the choir's role is to help the congregation enter into the profound silence and sorrow of the Passion. Austinmary Paul Anuebunwa's setting of "The Seven Last Words" does exactly this, offering a structured, meditative journey through Christ's final moments on Calvary.

The hymn is arranged in seven distinct verses, each dedicated to one of the final phrases Jesus spoke before his death. Starting with his merciful plea, "Father, forgive them," the verses walk singers and listeners through his promise to the penitent thief, his provision for his mother, his cry of abandonment, his physical thirst, and finally, his ultimate surrender. The simple, strophic form allows the choir to focus entirely on the weight of the text, delivering the narrative with clarity and reverence.

Singing this during the Veneration of the Cross provides a powerful anchor for the liturgy. As the faithful come forward to kiss the wood of the cross, the choir voices the very words of love, anguish, and truth that hung in the air on that first Good Friday. It is a deeply moving piece that requires no vocal acrobatics—only a prayerful, sincere delivery that draws the whole church into the mystery of the crucifixion.