Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Passion Play of Oberammergau every ten years

Passion Play of Oberammergau every ten years

Last updated on: September 30, 2022 at 5:00 pm by Father Pablo Migone

Passion Play of Oberammergau every ten years 2022-09-30T17:00:44-05:00 Father Pablo Migone

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Passion Play of Oberammergau in Southern Germany was first performed in 1633 after the villagers made a promise to God: if the citizens of the village did not die from the plague that was ravishing the region, they would stage the Passion of Jesus Christ every ten years. For 200 years the Passion Play was staged in the cemetery of the village, and due to the growing number of people who came to see it, an outdoor theater was built where the current theater now stands. Today’s theater is a modern facility that is almost totally enclosed – there is no wall behind the stage.

The Passion Play lasts about five hours total with a three-hour interlude during which one has dinner. It is divided into twelve acts with a musical performance in between acts which reflects on the upcoming act with a still depiction of Old Testament scenes. All those involved in the production are natives of Oberammergau or have lived a minimum of twenty years in the village. Despite the grand scale of the performance, it is still a small-town production. Two of the young ladies who served us dinner in the interlude where in the play’s choir.

These are the major points that stood out to me during this beautiful and poignant work:

The large crowd on stage

The sheer number of people on stage is breathtaking. The Passion Play opens with the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem where at least 250 people of all ages praise him with palms. Jesus rides on stage on a real donkey. Likewise, the crowd when Jesus is presented to Pilate was a real mob. The crowd moves and screams, reacting strongly to the words of Pilate and the members of the Sanhedrin. I found the scene before Pilate to be the most impactful one of the whole Passion Play.

Judas was tricked

The text of the current Passion Play was mostly written by Father Joseph Daisenberger (1799-1883) who was pastor of the village. The text utilizes much creativity especially in the first half of the play in the development of dialogue between the Biblical characters. The most notable creative touch concerns Judas. In the Passion Play, Judas, along with various of the apostles, are dissatisfied because Jesus will not bring about the earthly kingdom of David. Caiaphas tricks Judas, asking him to bring Jesus to him so that they may have a conversation. When Jesus is arrested and taken to Caiaphas, Judas realizes the true intentions of the High Priest so he protests. Due to Judas’ insistence that Jesus should be released, Caiaphas offers him thirty silver coins so he would be quiet. Judas recognizes the mistake he has made, throws the coins on the ground and hangs himself. In summary, you feel sorry for Judas, he too becomes a victim of the High Priest.

Lack of unity

Throughout the Passion Play, it becomes clear that the members of the Sanhedrin did not all think in unison in regards to the ministry of Jesus. There are arguments among the various priests. At the same time, the Play shows a lack of unity in thought among the apostles. This fact offers a very human and grounded reflection on what interactions within these two groups of men could have been.

Death of Jesus

Also of note, was the moment the thieves and Jesus are brought down from the cross. Their bodies are absolute dead weight, and it is impressive to see that the man representing Jesus appears to stop breathing for a long period of time. It is hard to remember that they are amateurs, and not professional actors!

Mary Magdalene and the resurrection

In the same way that Mary Magdalene played a central role in the resurrection account of Jesus, the Passion Play places in her lips a beautiful announcement of resurrection. Once she realizes what has happened, she exclaims, “I will proclaim his resurrection to my brothers, in the midst of his congregation I will praise Him! Wake up, Zion! Put on your best garments, Jerusalem, you holy city! People of Mount Zion, you who live in Jerusalem, wake up! Your eyes will behold the king in his beauty! Your ears will hear him! He was condemned, shunned by people, a man in pain. But God freed him from the sorrows of death and raised him up. I know that my Savior lives! He is with us everyday until the end of the world! That is why my heart rejoices, and my tongue exalts! Oh, if only I could shout it through all the world, so that mountains and rocks and heaven and earth would echo with it: Hallelujah! He is risen!

Closing Thoughts

The Passion Play of Oberammergau is worth attending. The next opportunity to see it will be 2030 when it returns to its proper cycle (it was transferred from 2020 to this year due to the coronavirus). While there, I heard it will be performed again in 2034 to commemorate its 400th anniversary. The Passion Play is a beautiful expression of faith and art – one that not only inspires those who attend it, but I am sure also arouses the faith of the citizens of the village.

Picture taken from here.

History and Religion

Religious Events

Previous Post

September 8, 2022

Queen Elizabeth II dies, Francis expresses condolences

Next Post

October 4, 2022 Not just another book

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Article Catholic Lima Christmas Commentary History Homily Immigration martyrs Meditation Pope Reflection Saint Story Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 January 2010 June 2009 September 2008 August 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who provided bread and Goliath's sword to David at Nob?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Ahimelech the priest Jonathan Abner Abiathar