The Stabat Mater
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 pass'd.
Oh, how sad and sore distress'd
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,
Whelm'd 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?
Bruis'd, derided, curs'd, defil'd,
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 our 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 mourn'd 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 best,
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 swoon'd
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 defense,
Be Thy cross my victory.
While my body here decays,
May my soul Thy goodness praise,
Safe in Paradise with Thee.
Amen.
Historical Background
The "Stabat Mater" was written in the middle ages. It was well known in Europe
by the end of the14th century and was included in several local Missals in the 15th
century.
It was inserted into the Roman Missal and Breviary in 1727 (Feast of the Seven Sorrows of
the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated on the Friday before Good Friday). Following changes
by Pius XII, it now appears on the Feast of Our Lady's Sorrows celebrated on 15 September.
It is not known who wrote the hymn and several authors have been suggested. The hymn is
usually ascribed to Jacopone da Todi (1228? - 1306). After the sudden death of his pious
wife, Jacopone gave up his profession as a lawyer, became a Franciscan tertiary and lived
as a poor wandering man for 10 years. He then became a Franciscan friar and suffered much
for supporting the "Spiritual Franciscans". He wrote many
hymns in Italian dialect which were widely sung by the people.
However it seems more likely that the "Stabat Mater" was written by Pope
Innocent III (1161 -1216).
Pope Innocent III was one of the greatest popes of the Middle Ages. Although best known
for securing the independence of the Church against mediaeval rulers, he was a deeply
pious man and a great preacher and writer.
[Adapted from the article "Stabat Mater" in The Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)]
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