stabat mater dolorosa (at the cross her station keeping)

At the cross her station keepingstood the mournful Mother weeping,close to Jesus to the last.

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

Oh, how sad and sore distressedwas that Mother highly blessedof the sole begotten One!

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

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

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

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,she beheld her tender Child,all with bloody scourges rent.

For the sins of his own nationsaw him hang in desolationtill his spirit forth he sent.

O sweet Mother! font of love,touch my spirit from above,make my heart with yours accord.

Make me feel as you have felt;make my soul to glow and meltwith the love of Christ, my Lord.

Holy Mother, pierce me through,in my heart each wound renewof my Savior crucified.

Let me share with you his pain,who for all our sins was slain,who for me in torments died.

Let me mingle tears with you,mourning him who mourned for me,all the days that I may live .

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

Virgin of all virgins blest!Listen to my fond request:let me share your grief divine.

Let me to my latest breath,in my body bear the deathof that dying Son of yours.

Wounded with his every wound,steep my soul till it has swoonedin his very blood away.

Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,lest in flames I burn and die,in his awful judgment day.

Christ, when you shall call me hence,be your Mother my defense,be your cross my victory.

While my body here decays,may my soul your goodness praise,safe in heaven eternally.Amen. (Alleluia.)

Stabat Mater dolorósaIuxta crucem lacrimósa,Dum pendébat Fílius.

Cuius ánimam geméntem,Contristátam et doléntem,Pertransívit gládius.

O quam tristis et afflíctaFuit illa BenedíctaMater Unigéniti!

Quæ mærébat, et dolébat,Pia Mater, dum vidébatNati pœnas ínclyti.

Quis est homo, qui non fleret,Matrem Christi si vidéretIn tanto supplício?

Quis non posset contristári,Christi Matrem contempláriDoléntem cum Fílio?

Pro peccátis suæ gentisVidit Iesum in torméntis,Et flagéllis súbditum.

Vidit suum dulcem natumMoriéndo desolátum,Dum emísit spíritum.

Eia Mater, fons amóris,Me sentíre vim dolórisFac, ut tecum lúgeam.

Fac, ut árdeat cor meumIn amándo Christum Deum,Ut sibi compláceam.

Sancta Mater, istud agas,Crucifíxi fige plagasCordi meo válide.

Tui nati vulneráti,Tam dignáti pro me pati,Pœnas mecum dívide.

Fac me tecum pie flere,Crucifíxo condolére,Donec ego víxero.

Iuxta crucem tecum stare,Et me tibi sociáreIn planctu desídero.

Virgo vírginum præclára,Mihi iam non sis amára:Fac me tecum plángere.

Fac, ut portem Christi mortem,Passiónis fac consórtem,Et plagas recólere.

Fac me plagis vulnerári,Fac me cruce inebriári,Et cruóre Fílii.

Flammis ne urar succénsus,Per te, Virgo, sim defénsusIn die iudícii.

Christe, cum sit hinc exíre,Da per Matrem me veníreAd palmam victóriæ.

Quando corpus moriétur,Fac, ut ánimæ donéturParadísi glória.Amen. Allelúia.