Wednesday of Holy Week: Traditional Commentary and Chant

The Chief Priests Take Counsel Together

Spy Wednesday
   "The Chief Priests and the Ancients of the people, are met to-day, in one of the rooms adjoining the Temple, for the purpose of deliberating on the best means of putting Jesus to death. . . . But how are Jesus' enemies to get possession of their divine Victim, so as to avoid a disturbance in the City?"

Judas Iscariot

Judas Goes to Find the Jews

   "Just at the close of their deliberations, they are told that one of Jesus' Disciples seeks admission. They admit him, and he says to them: What will you give me, and I will deliver him unto you? . . . They know the Scriptures from beginning to end; — how comes it, that they forget the words of the Prophet, who even mentions the sum of thirty pieces of silver? Judas asks them what they will give him; and they give him thirty pieces of silver! All is arranged: to-morrow, Jesus will be in Jerusalem, eating the Pasch with his Disciples. In the evening, he will go, as usual, to the Garden on Mount Olivet. But how shall they, who are sent to seize him, be able to distinguish him from his Disciples? Judas will lead the way; he will show them which is Jesus, by going up to him and kissing him!"

   Judas was the spy whose betrayal of Jesus gave the name to Spy Wednesday;  he told Jesus's enemies where and when they could find him and conspired with them to kiss Jesus so they would know how to arrest the right man. 

Gradual Chant

Ps 68:18; 68:2-3
Ne avértas fáciem tuam a púero tuo, quóniam tríbulor: velóciter exáudi me.
V. Salvum me fac, Deus, quóniam intravérunt aquæ usque ad ánimam meam: infíxus sum in limo profúndi, et non est substántia.

And turn not away thy face from thy servant: for I am in trouble, hear me speedily.
V. Save me, O God: for the waters are come in even unto my soul.  I stick fast in the mire of the deep: and there is no sure standing.

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   All quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are extracts from: Wednesday of Holy Week by Dom Prosper Guerangér.

    This post is part of a series titled "Traditions of Holy Week," with commentary from Dom Prosper Guéranger's The Liturgical Year, illustrations by James Tissot for The Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and chants from each day's liturgy. Unless otherwise indicated, the quotes are from Dom Guerangér's writings for each day. See also:

• Palm Sunday
• Monday of Holy Week
• Tuesday of Holy Week
• Thursday of Holy Week
• Good Friday
• Holy Saturday
• Easter Sunday

Note: Links will not work until the actual day.