+A.M.D.G.+
Stabat Mater Dolorosa March 5, 2008
14 February 2008 at 23.29The New York Baroque Players will be performing Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s beautiful Stabat Mater Dolorosa at the Church of St. Agnes (143 East 43rd St., between Lexington and Third Aves. in Manhattan) on Wednesday, March 5, 2008, from 6-7pm.
Stabat Mater dolorosa (the Sorrowful Mother was standing) are the opening words of the hymn by the same name, likely composed by Pope Innocent III or the friar Blessèd Jacopo da Todi in the early 13th century.
This medieval hymn meditates on the suffering of Mary, our Lady of Sorrows, as she stood beside Christ during His Crucifixion.
See the Catholic Encyclopedia article for more about the Stabat Mater.
It has been set to music by numerous composers over the ages, including Dvorák, Hayden, Part, Pergolesi, Rossini, Scarlatti, Verdi and Vivaldi. The link provided below is a sampling of Pergolesi’s powerful representation.
Stabat Mater Dolorosa
The following translation preserves the meaning, meter (trochaic quadrameter), rhyme scheme, but is not a word-for-word translation. Try listening to Pergolesi’s arrangement as you pray this wonderful prayer:
| Stabat Mater dolorosa iuxta Crucem lacrimosa, dum pendebat Filius. |
At the Cross her station keeping, stood the mournful Mother weeping, close to Jesus to the last. |
| Cuius animam gementem, contristatam et dolentem pertransivit gladius. |
Through her heart, His sorrow sharing, all His bitter anguish bearing, now at length the sword has passed. |
| O quam tristis et afflicta fuit illa benedicta, mater Unigeniti! |
O how sad and sore distressed was that Mother, highly blest, of the sole-begotten One. |
| Quae maerebat et dolebat, pia Mater, dum videbat nati poenas inclyti. |
Christ above in torment hangs, she beneath beholds the pangs of her dying glorious Son. |
| Quis est homo qui non fleret, matrem Christi si videret in tanto supplicio? |
Is there one who would not weep, whelmed in miseries so deep, Christ’s dear Mother to behold? |
| Quis non posset contristari Christi Matrem contemplari dolentem cum Filio? |
Can the human heart refrain from partaking in her pain, in that Mother’s pain untold? |
| Pro peccatis suae gentis vidit Iesum in tormentis, et flagellis subditum. |
For the sins of His own nation, She saw Jesus wracked with torment, All with scourges rent: |
| Vidit suum dulcem Natum moriendo desolatum, dum emisit spiritum. |
She beheld her tender Child, Saw Him hang in desolation, Till His spirit forth He sent. |
| Eia, Mater, fons amoris me sentire vim doloris fac, ut tecum lugeam. |
O thou Mother! fount of love! Touch my spirit from above, make my heart with thine accord: |
| Fac, ut ardeat cor meum in amando Christum Deum ut sibi complaceam. |
Make me feel as thou hast felt; make my soul to glow and melt with the love of Christ my Lord. |
| Sancta Mater, istud agas, crucifixi fige plagas cordi meo valide. |
Holy Mother! pierce me through, in my heart each wound renew of my Savior crucified: |
| Tui Nati vulnerati, tam dignati pro me pati, poenas mecum divide. |
Let me share with thee His pain, who for all my sins was slain, who for me in torments died. |
| Fac me tecum pie flere, crucifixo condolere, donec ego vixero. |
Let me mingle tears with thee, mourning Him who mourned for me, all the days that I may live: |
| Iuxta Crucem tecum stare, et me tibi sociare in planctu desidero. |
By the Cross with thee to stay, there with thee to weep and pray, is all I ask of thee to give. |
| Virgo virginum praeclara, mihi iam non sis amara, fac me tecum plangere. |
Virgin of all virgins blest!, Listen to my fond request: let me share thy grief divine; |
| Fac, ut portem Christi mortem, passionis fac consortem, et plagas recolere. |
Let me, to my latest breath, in my body bear the death of that dying Son of thine. |
| Fac me plagis vulnerari, fac me Cruce inebriari, et cruore Filii. |
Wounded with His every wound, steep my soul till it hath swooned, in His very Blood away; |
| Flammis ne urar succensus, per te, Virgo, sim defensus in die iudicii. |
Be to me, O Virgin, nigh, lest in flames I burn and die, in His awful Judgment Day. |
| Christe, cum sit hinc exire, da per Matrem me venire ad palmam victoriae. |
Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence, by Thy Mother my defense, by Thy Cross my victory; |
| Quando corpus morietur, fac, ut animae donetur paradisi gloria. Amen. |
When my body dies, let my soul be granted the glory of Paradise. Amen. |
No Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment
The Compleat Gentleman
Transformation in Christ