Thanks to producer Ken Schmitt, lyricist and singer, Ryan Neal and pianist, Andrew Bontempi for sharing this video of Ryan’s original song, A Solemn Halleluja. Ryan will sing this song as part part of the celebration of the Solemn Commemoration of the Passion today at Saint Stephen’s Parish in Old Hickory Tennessee. 

This feast celebrated annually by the Passionist Congregation (Religious men and women, associated Laity), was designed by the founder of the Passionists, St. Paul of the Cross, to provide a setting outside of Holy Week when his Religious would be able to CELEBRATE the saving grace of Christ’s obedience unto death, his Passion, leading to his Resurrection. Now celebrated on the Friday before Ash Wednesday, a homily written for that day by Msgr. Bernard Powers of the Owensboro KY diocese sparked the initiative of Ryan Neal (Nashville TN) to write a song lyric to celebrate this loving surrender of Jesus to the mission he had undertaken.

CPP

We are a community of laymen and laywomen who, with vowed Passionists, seek to share in the charism of St. Paul of the Cross through prayer, ongoing spiritual formation, and proclamation of the message of Christ Crucified.