Great Catholic Prayers

Stabat Mater dolorosa

Le August 14, 2022

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The sequence (sung before the Gospel) from the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows

Our Lady of Sorrows

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 bearin
Now at length the sword had passed.

Oh, how sad and sore distressed
Was that Mother highly blessed
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 sweet Mother! font of love,
Touch my spirit from above,
Make my heart with yours accord.

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

Holy Mother, pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of 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 death
Of that dying Son of yours.

Wounded with his every wound,
Steep my soul till it has 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 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.



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 paenas incliti.

Quis est homo qui non fleret,
matrem Christi si videret
in tanto supplicio?

Quis non posset contristari
piam matrem contemplari
dolentem cum Filio ?

Pro peccatis suae gentis
vidit Iesum in tormentis,
et flagellis subditum.

Vidit suum dulcem natum
morientem desolatum,
cum emisit spiritum.

Christe, cum sit hinc exire,
da per matrem me venire
ad palmam victoriae


Laudes


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,
paenas mecum divide.

Fac me vere tecum flere,
Crucifixo condolere,
donec ego vixero.

Iuxta crucem tecum stare,
ac me tibi sociare,
in planctu desiderio.

Quando corpus morietur,
fac ut animae donetur
paradisi gloria.


Vespers


Virgo virginum praeclara,
mihi iam non sis amara,
fac me tecum plangere.

Fac ut portem Christi mortem,
passionis fac me sortem,
et plagas recolere.

Fac me plagis vulnerari,
cruce hac inebriari,
et cruore Filii.

Flammis urar ne succensus,
per te, Virgo, sim defensus
in die iudicii.

Fac me cruce custodiri,
morte Christi premuniri,
confoveri gratia.

Quando corpus morietur,
fac ut animae donetur
paradisi gloria.

Stabat Mater
The Virgin in Mourning according to Dieric Bouts (16th c.) MET, NYC, USA

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Credit for “The great Catholic prayers” banner: Midday prayer at harvest time, Theodor Schüz (1830-1900), Museum of Art, Stuttgart, Germany. © akg-images