HE WAS BROKEN

"He Was Broken" is a deeply moving Lenten piece by Abraham Uke, originally composed for the St. Joseph Chaplaincy at Crutech, Calabar. It draws the choir and congregation directly into the heavy, sorrowful steps of Christ’s Passion. From the opening refrain, the melody carries the weight of Good Friday, reflecting on the man of sorrows who was stripped, mocked, and led to the cross for our sake.

The verses walk us through the events of the Passion with raw, descriptive language. We hear the echoes of Pilate finding no fault, the crowd shouting for crucifixion, the soldiers casting lots, and the heartbreaking encounter between Jesus and His patient Mother. When a choir sings this during Holy Week or the Veneration of the Cross, the stark storytelling helps the faithful visualize the immense sacrifice of Calvary. It is a solemn, reflective hymn that invites everyone in the pews to pause and sit with the reality of Christ's suffering.