Stations of the Cross

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. 

O, 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 my Lord.

Holy Mother! pierce me through;

In my heart each wound renew,

Of my Savior 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.

LATIN -

1 Stabat Mater dolorosa

Juxta crucem lacrimosa,

Dum pendebat Filius.

2 Cujus animam gementem,

contristatam et dolentem,

Pertransivit gladius.

3 O quam tristis et afflicta

Fuit illa benedicta,

Mater Unigeniti!

4 Quae maerebat et dolebat,

Pia Mater, dum videbat

Nati poenas inclyti.

5 Quis non posset contristari,

Piam Matrem contemplari

Dolentem cum Filio?

6 Quis est homo qui non fleret,

Matrem Christi si videret

In tanto supplicio?

7 Pro peccatis suae gentis

vidit Iesum in tormentis,

et flagellis subditum.

8 Vidit suum dulcem Natum

Moriendo desolatum,

Dum emisit spiritum.

9 Eia Mater, fons amoris,

Me sentire vim doloris

Fac, ut tecum lugeam.

10 Fac ut ardeat cor meum

in amando Christum Deum,

ut sibi complaceam.

11 Sancta Mater, istud agas,

Crucifixi fige plagas

Cordi meo valide.

12 Tui Nati vulnerati,

Tam dignati pro me pati,

Poenas mecum divide.

13 Fac me vere tecum flere,

Crucifixo condolere,

Donec ego vixero.

14 Juxta crucem tecum stare,

Ac me tibi sociare

In planctu desidero.

15 Virgo virginum praeclara,

Mihi jam non sis amara:

Fac me tecum plangere.

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