Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736)
1. Stabat Mater dolorosa
Iuxta crucem lacrimosa
Dum pendebat Filius.
1. The grieving Mother stood
weeping beside the cross
where her Son was hanging.
2. Cuius animam gementem
Contristatam et dolentem
Pertransivit gladius.
2. Through her weeping soul,
compassionate and grieving,
a sword passed.
3. O quam tristis et afflicta
Fuit illa benedicta
Mater unigeniti!
3. O how sad and afflicted
was that blessed Mother
of the only-begotten!
4. Quae moerebat et dolebat,
Pia Mater, dum videbat
Nati poenas incliti.
4. Who mourned and grieved,
seeing and bearing the torment
of her glorious child.
5. Quis est homo qui non fleret,
Matrem Christi si videret
In tanto supplicio?
5. Who is it that would not weep,
seeing Christ’s Mother
in such agony?
6. Vidit suum dulcem natum
Moriendo desolatum
Dum emisit spiritum.
6. She saw her sweet child
die desolate,
as he gave up his spirit.
7. Eja Mater, fons amoris
Me sentire vim doloris
Fac, ut tecum lugeam.
7. O Mother, fountain of love,
make me feel the power of sorrow,
that I may grieve with you.
8. Fac, ut ardeat cor meum
In amando Christum Deum
Ut sibi complaceam.
8. Grant that my heart may burn
in the love of Christ my God,
that I may greatly please him.
9. Sancta Mater, istud agas,
Crucifixi fige plagas
cordi meo valide.
9. Holy Mother, may you do thus:
place the wounds of the Crucified
deep in my heart.
10. Fac ut portem Christi mortem,
passionis fac consortem,
et plagas recolere.
10. Make me to bear Christ's death,
sharing in His passion,
and commemorate his wounds.
11. Inflammatus et accensus
per te, Virgo, sim defensus
in die iudicii.
11. 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,
nurtured by grace.
12. Quando corpus morietur,
fac ut animæ donetur
Paradisi gloria. Amen.
12. When my body dies,
grant that to my soul is given
the glory of paradise. Amen.
13th century Franciscan hymn
©Hans van der Velden