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 has passed.
O, 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?
For the sins of his own nation she saw Jesus wracked with torment, all with bloody scourges rent. She beheld her tender Child, see 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. Make me feel as you have felt; make my soul to glow and melt with the love of Christ my Lord. 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! Quæ mœrebat et dolebat, pia Mater dum videbat Nati pœnas inclyti.
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 suæ 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. Amen.