St. Mark and St. Luke's versions of the Passion are used during Holy Week.

(St. Matthew's version is first, on Palm Sunday, probably since St. Matthew wrote his Gospel first. St. John's version is used on Good Friday, so people hear this one sung the most. Maybe St. John's is used because he stood by the cross on Good Friday, plus he wrote his Gospel last.)

If you look in the Liber or Missale Romanum, you can see that there IS notation for 3-part (C. for celebrant, S. for synagoga, etc.) but in the late 20th and early 21st century milieu, I don't see a place where St. Mark's would ever be sung.

Even the Winona seminary in the "good old days" didn't have time (?) to sing the full chant for these Gospels. Maybe it's just too much for that week? Considering that the Holy Week triduum is just days away, and much preparation needs to be done in the MC department (in charge of ceremonies and rubrics), Sacristy, Schola, etc.

Anyhow, my question is -- has anyone ever heard the St. Mark or St. Luke passions sung somewhere, maybe 50 years ago? Have you ever encountered a recording of either of these?

Is this something we'll have to wait for the Restoration to enjoy? Because it seems that even at a solid, Trad seminary they don't get around to singing these. Maybe because the average 6th year (Deacon) class only has 2-6 seminarians, and they don't have time to practice for 4 Gospels in a week's time?

Or is it just a matter of preference? I mean, the Synagoga could be sung by a non-deacon. That would take some of the burden off. But it's still a weekday Mass, and everyone is getting ready for the Triduum and Easter (and at Winona, the 2-week Easter Break immediately followed).

They only allowed X time for Mass in the Seminary schedule, and singing the Gospel (~20 minutes) would have required that the 1st hour class be cancelled. That would have messed up a lot of lesson plans. Maybe that's why it was never done.

Thanks.

I have not, but then again, I'm not sure the last time I've been to Mass on the Tuesday or Wednesday of Holy Week (those are the days when St. Mark's and St. Luke's Passions are called for, right?).  If I recall correctly, every day of Holy Week is a 1st class feast, so it would make sense to have a Solemn High Mass, with the sung Passion, but, as you pointed out, it may simply be too much work.  I really don't know.

They are first class ferias, not feasts. Of course you know very well the nature of these days, but that word just popped out at me. And I do apologize for even giving the appearance of a correction, but I didn't want to leave it out there.  

I have been to Mass on both of these days over the years. They were both Low Masses at 6 in the morning. I have never seen these Gospels sung. Keep in mind also the demands of the Divine Office during these days (Offices of Tenebrae) and the fact that they are not even Holy Days of Obligation. What I am trying to say is I don't think they have ever been sung. And if they have, it was probably a very long time ago.  

You are correct that the parts are certainly indicated. But might it be for the reason to aid those reading and praying these Passion accounts to keep track of who is saying what?

I have never given thought to the order of the accounts being set according to the order of the Gospels being written. That is an interesting observation. Perhaps that is Divine intervention occurring. Because they just make so much sense in matching the tone of each day. For instance, notice that there is another Gospel read during the passing out of palms and for the procession of palms from Matthew. It just makes Liturgical sense that Matthew should be read on Palm Sunday. The same thing applies to me for John being read on Good Friday. I could not imagine it any other way.

Mark and Luke seem to be in the Liturgy for those who can make it to Mass or to simply read at home for further contemplation during Holy Week. And of course for priests who are conducting Mass in private as well, it certainly will be helpful in preparing for the Triduum and Resurrection Sunday. In High Masses others are brought in to sing Matthew and John. But maybe it is important that priests get a chance to read them themselves at the Altar in public or private Masses.

These are just my thoughts and observations. But I don't really know with any kind of accuracy. Very interesting question, Matthew.

Speaking of St. Mark's Passion, I have a question about two verses, which occur during Our Lord's arrest in the garden:

Quote from: St. Mark 14:51-52

And a certain young man followed him, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and they laid hold on him. But he, casting off the linen cloth, fled from them naked.

Who is this man and what is the significance of him being mentioned?  The Haydock commentary is of the opinion the the young man was the owner, or son of the owner, of the garden, but offers nothing on the significance of him being mentioned.  I also read once that it could of been St. Mark himself, and that he did not refer to himself by name, much like how St. John does not refer to himself by name is his gospel.  This second hypothesis could also be a reason why this young man is not mentioned in any of the other gospels.

What does everyone else think?

I've heard that tradition holds that Mark was the son of the owner of the house where the Last Supper was held.  When the Lord and his apostles left to go to the garden, he put on a blanket to cover himself and followed them.  Thus, he is an eye-witness to the events in the garden.  He wanted to tell his own story in the Gospel account but also knew that he really isn't the story anyone wants to read, thus the one simple sentence.