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Stabat Mater

Stabat Mater dolorosa

The Stabat Mater is a medieval Latin hymn traditionally attributed to the Franciscan poet Jacopone da Todi. This English translation by Edward Caswall became one of the best-known Catholic versions in the nineteenth century. Its twenty stanzas contemplate the Blessed Virgin Mary standing sorrowfully beside the Cross and ask for grace to share her compassion for Christ. Catholics commonly sing selected stanzas between the stations during the Stations of the Cross, especially on Fridays in Lent and during Holy Week. The prayer reflects the Church’s teaching that Mary remained united with her Son unto the Cross, as described in CCC 964.

At the Cross her station keeping, Stood 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. O how sad and sore distressed Was that Mother, highly blest, Of the sole-begotten One! Christ above in torment hangs; She beneath beholds the pangs Of 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 refrain From 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 nation, Saw Him hang in desolation, Till His spirit forth He sent. O thou Mother! fount of love! Touch my spirit from above, Make my heart with thine accord. Make me feel as thou hast felt; Make my soul to glow and melt With the love of Christ my Lord. Holy Mother! pierce me through; In my heart each wound renew Of my Saviour crucified. Let me share with thee His pain, Who for all my sins was slain, Who for me in torments died. Let me mingle tears with thee, Mourning Him who mourned for me, All the days that I may live. By the Cross with thee to stay, There with thee to weep and pray, Is all I ask of thee to give. Virgin of all virgins blest! Listen to my fond request: Let me share thy grief divine. Let me, to my latest breath, In my body bear the death Of that dying Son of thine. Wounded with His every wound, Steep my soul till it hath swooned In His very Blood away. Be to me, O Virgin, nigh, Lest in flames I burn and die In His awful judgment day. Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence, Be Thy Mother my defence, Be Thy Cross my victory. While my body here decays, May my soul Thy goodness praise, Safe in Paradise with Thee. Amen.
In Latin

Stabat Mater dolorosa iuxta Crucem lacrimosa, dum pendebat Filius. Cuius animam gementem, contristatam et dolentem pertransivit gladius. O quam tristis et afflicta fuit illa benedicta, Mater Unigeniti! Quae maerebat et dolebat, pia Mater, dum videbat Nati poenas incliti. Quis est homo qui non fleret, Matrem Christi si videret in tanto supplicio? Quis non posset contristari, Christi Matrem contemplari dolentem cum Filio? Pro peccatis suae gentis vidit Iesum in tormentis, et flagellis subditum. Vidit suum dulcem Natum moriendo desolatum, dum emisit spiritum. Eia, Mater, fons amoris, me sentire vim doloris fac, ut tecum lugeam. Fac, ut ardeat cor meum in amando Christum Deum, ut sibi complaceam. Sancta Mater, istud agas, Crucifixi fige plagas cordi meo valide. Tui Nati vulnerati, tam dignati pro me pati, poenas mecum divide. Fac me tecum pie flere, Crucifixo condolere, donec ego vixero. Iuxta Crucem tecum stare, et me tibi sociare in planctu desidero. Virgo virginum praeclara, mihi iam non sis amara, fac me tecum plangere. Fac, ut portem Christi mortem, passionis fac consortem, et plagas recolere. Fac me plagis vulnerari, fac me Cruce inebriari, et cruore Filii. Flammis ne urar succensus, per te, Virgo, sim defensus in die iudicii. Christe, cum sit hinc exire, da per Matrem me venire ad palmam victoriae. Quando corpus morietur, fac, ut animae donetur Paradisi gloria. Amen.

When to pray it: Pray or sing the Stabat Mater during the Stations of the Cross, especially on Fridays in Lent and during Holy Week.

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