View of the stage of the Oberammergau Passion Play on Oct. 6, 2000. Photo: Nancy, CC BY-SA 4.0
In Europe in the early 17th century, sentries guarded towns, villages and hamlets to protect them from a silent, deadly and relentless killer — the bubonic plague. No one could get in or out without the proper clearances and medical screening.
For months the small village of Oberammergau in Bavaria, Germany, maintained its precautionary measures against this aggressive and deadly disease. That is, until the church festival of 1632, when a resident Kasper Schisler, unknowingly infected by the bubonic virus, slipped past guards and entered the village to visit his family.
Weeks later, the toll of his visit took effect as 80 residents, young and old, succumbed to the disease which had no cure. Gripped in fear, the community rallied in prayer, pleading for God’s intervention. Their pledge: If God would protect the village from the plague, its residents would perform a play on the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ every 10 years.
That very day, God answered the villagers’ prayers. None of its residents died even though some showed symptoms of the disease.
Beginning in 1634, the villagers held good to their pledge with their first Passion Play. The performance occurred every 10 years until 1674 when the community decided to hold its sixth Passion Play in 1680 and every 10 years thereafter. The 43rd Passion Play will be staged from May to October 2020.
The uniqueness of the Oberammergau Passion Play cannot be over-emphasized according to promoters. It is truly a one-of-a kind performance. The cast, director, set designers and others involved in the production must come from the local area in fulfillment of the 1634 vow.
Two Hawaii deacons are hosting pilgrimages to the famed Oberammergau Passion Play next year.
Deacon Gerald (Gary) Streff of St. Elizabeth Parish, Aiea, is hosting a 10-day pilgrimage to Oberammergau and Switzerland, Sept. 9-18, 2020. To join Deacon Streff and his wife Valerie on this pilgrimage, or for more information, contact him at (808) 597-0413, gstreff@rcchawaii.org or streff.gerald@gmail.com.
Deacon Raul Perez of St. Jude Parish, Kapolei, is also hosting a pilgrimage to the play plus the Holy Land, Sept. 7-17, 2020. Contact him at (808) 256-9000 or rperez@rcchawaii.org.
For more information about the Oberammergau Passion Play go to its website.
