STABAT MATER

At the Cross her station keeping,
stood the mournful Mother weeping,
close to her Son to the last.

2. Cuius ánimam geméntem,
contristátam et doléntem
pertransívit gládius.

Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,
all His bitter anguish bearing,
now at length the sword has passed.

3. O quam tristis et afflícta
fuit illa benedícta,
mater Unigéniti!

O how sad and sore distressed
was that Mother, highly blest,
of the sole-begotten One.

4. Quae mœrébat et dolébat,
pia Mater, dum vidébat
nati pœnas ínclyti.

Christ above in torment hangs,
she beneath beholds the pangs
of her dying glorious Son.

5. Quis est homo qui non fleret,
matrem Christi si vidéret
in tanto supplício?

Is there one who would not weep,
whelmed in miseries so deep,
Christ’s dear Mother to behold?

6. Quis non posset contristári
Christi Matrem contemplári
doléntem cum Fílio?

Can the human heart refrain
from partaking in her pain,
in that Mother’s pain untold?

7. Pro peccátis suæ gentis
vidit Iésum in torméntis,
et flagéllis súbditum.

Bruis’d, derided, curs’d, defiled,
She beheld her tender child
All with bloody scourges rent.

8. Vidit suum dulcem Natum
moriéndo desolátum,
dum emísit spíritum.

For the love of His own nation,
Saw Him hang in desolation,
Till His spirit forth He sent.

9. Eja, Mater, fons amóris
me sentíre vim dolóris
fac, ut tecum lúgeam.

O thou Mother! fount of love!
Touch my spirit from above,
make my heart with thine accord:

10. Fac, ut árdeat cor meum
in amándo Christum Deum
ut sibi compláceam.

Make me feel as thou hast felt;
make my soul to glow and melt
with the love of Christ my Lord.

11. Sancta Mater, istud agas,
crucifíxi fige plagas
cordi meo válide.

Holy Mother! pierce me through,
in my heart each wound renew
of my Savior crucified:

12. Tui Nati vulneráti,
tam dignáti pro me pati,
pœnas mecum dívide.

Let me share with thee His pain,
who for all my sins was slain,
who for me in torments died.

13. Fac me vere tecum flere,
crucifíxo condolére,
donec ego víxero.

Let me mingle tears with thee,
mourning Him who mourned for me,
all the days that I may live:

14. Juxta Crucem tecum stare,
et me tibi sociáre
in planctu desídero.

By the Cross with thee to stay,
there with thee to weep and pray,
is all I ask of thee to give.

15. Virgo vírginum præclára,
mihi iam non sis amára,
fac me tecum plángere.

Virgin of all virgins blest!,
Listen to my fond request:
let me share thy grief divine;

16. Fac, ut portem Christi mortem,
passiónis fac consórtem,
et plagas recólere.

Let me, to my la breath,
in my body bear the death
of that dying Son of thine.

17. Fac me plagis vulnerári,
fac me Cruce inebriári,
et cruóre Fílii.

Wounded with His every wound,
steep my soul till it hath swooned,
in His very Blood away;

18. Flammis orci ne succendar,
per te virgo fac defendar,
in die iudícii.

Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
lest in flames I burn and die,
in His awful Judgment Day.

19. Fac me cruce custodiri,
Morte Christi praemuniri,
confoveri gratia.

Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence,
be Thy Mother my defense,
be Thy Cross my victory;

20. Quando corpus moriétur,
fac, ut ánimæ donétur
paradísi glória.

While my body here decays,
may my soul Thy goodness praise,
Safe in Paradise with Thee.

Amen.