In my Music Notebook...

Stabat Mater Dolorosa

Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736)for soprano and alto solo
 
Stabat Mater dolorosa
Iuxta crucem lacrimosa
Dum pendebat Filius.

The grieving Mother 
stood weeping beside the cross 
where her Son was hanging.

Cuius animam gementem
Contristatam et dolentem
Pertransivit gladius.

Through her weeping soul, 
compassionate and grieving, 
a sword passed.

O quam tristis et afflicta
Fuit illa benedicta
Mater unigeniti!

O how sad and afflicted 
was that blessed Mother 
of the only-begotten!

Quae moerebat et dolebat,
Pia Mater, dum videbat
Nati poenas incliti.

Who mourned and grieved, 
seeing and bearing the torment 
of her glorious child.

Quis est homo qui non fleret,
Matrem Christi si videret
In tanto supplicio?

Who is it that would not weep, 
seeing Christ’s Mother 
in such agony?

Vidit suum dulcem natum
Moriendo desolatum
Dum emisit spiritum.

She saw her sweet child
die desolate,
as he gave up His spirit.

Eja Mater, fons amoris 
Me sentire vim doloris
Fac, ut tecum lugeam.

O Mother, fountain of love,
make me feel the power of sorrow, 
that I may grieve with you.

Fac, ut ardeat cor meum 
In amando Christum Deum 
Ut sibi complaceam.

Grant that my heart may burn 
in the love of Christ my God, 
that I may greatly please Him.

Sancta Mater, istud agas, 
Crucifixi fige plagas 
cordi meo valide.

Holy Mother, may you do thus:
place the wounds of the Crucified
deep in my heart.

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

Make me to bear Christ's death,
sharing in His passion,
and commemorate his wounds.

Inflammatus et accensus 
per te, Virgo, sim defensus
in die iudicii.

Inflame and set on fire, 
may I be defended by you, Virgin, 
on the day of judgment.

Fac me cruce custodiri 
morte Christi praemuniri 
confoveri gratia.

Let me be guarded by the cross, 
armed by Christ's death 
and His cherished by His grace.

Quando corpus morietur, 
fac ut animæ donetur 
Paradisi gloria. Amen.

When my body dies, 
grant that to my soul is given 
the glory of paradise. Amen.
​
© Hans van der Velden
13th century Franciscan hymn