Stabat Mater

Mater Dolorosa became an iconic type, as in this painting by Titian.

Describing the Virgin Mary's witnessing of the Crucifixion, the hymn Stabat Mater dolorosa was well known to all classes by the end of the fourteenth century and inspired a number of imitations. After a period of neglect following the Council of Trent, it was revised and in 1727 assigned as the sequence (in mode 2) for Friday of the fifth week of Lent and the Sorrows of Mary (Sept. 15). A different strophic tune appeared in the 1661 Mainz Gesangbuch p. 298 and is often heard at Stations of the Cross. Although the aabccb rhyme scheme might suggest 1a, 1b, 2a &c, the verse numbering 1-20 is found in the Liber Usualis and other books.

The Stabat Mater dolorosa is thought to originate from Franciscan sources in the 13th century. The Franciscan friar Jacopone da Todi (ca. 1230-1306), Pope Innocentius III (ca. 1160-1216), and Saint Bonaventura (died 1274) are named as the most probable poet, but also the Popes Gregorius and John XII and Bernhard of Clairveaux (died 1135) are mentioned. Of these ascriptions, the only probable ones are those to Innocent III and Jacopone.

A Christmas counterpart, which describes the joy of Maria at the cradle of Jesus, is described at at Stabat Mater speciosa.

Musical settings at CPDL

Stabat Mater dolorosa (In Latin, unless otherwise indicated)

Anonymous Gregorian, arr. Solims SATB Gregorian, accomp. Di Marco Al pie de la cruz (Traditional Spanish) SATB At the cross her station keeping (English translation) SATB Agostino Agazzari SATB Gregor Aichinger SST Juan Arriaga TTB & orchestra (2002-0200-str) Emanuele d'Astorga SATB & soloists with strings Estêvão de Brito SATB John Browne SATTBB Antonio Caldara SATB soli & tutti with strings & 2 trombones João de Deus Castro Lobo SATB (v. 8 only) Marc-Antoine Charpentier SA & bc Adrian Cuello SAB Des Prez: see Josquin below Antonio Draghi SATB (20vv) Antonín Dvořák SATB and SATB soloists with orchestra Fabio Fresi (vv. 1,2,20) SSATB Jose Miguel Galán Unison Mariano Garau 2007 SATB 2016 SATB 2018 SATB Charles Gounod SATTBB (French) piano & harmonium Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki SATB Paul van Gulick SSAATTBB with S solo and orchestra Joseph Haydn SATB and soloists with orchestra Juan Francés de Iribarren SATB Josquin des Prez SAATB (omits vv. 11-14) Józef Kocięda SATB Huub de Lange SATB Orlando di Lasso SSTT.ATTB Francesco de Layolle SATTB Franz Liszt (v. 1 as part of Via Crucis) SSA João de Deus Castro Lobo (v. 8) SATB

Evert van Merode SATB with harp, violin and violoncello Jorge Moreira SATB Giovanni Maria Nanino SATB José Maurício Nunes Garcia SATB & orchestra Juan Gutierrez de Padilla (vv. 1-2) SATB Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina SATB.SATB Giovanni Battista Pergolesi SA and string orchestra Claudio Raffi S, with string ensemble Antonio Ripa SATB.SATB & bc Gioachino Rossini SATB, SATB soloists & orchestra Josef Rheinberger Op. 138 SATB with strings Op. 16 SATB & orchestra, with solos for STB JWV 12 (through verse 10) SATB.SATB & basso seguente Giovanni Felice Sances medium voice & organ Claudio Saracini S + Bc Domenico Scarlatti SSSSAATTBB and Basso continuo Franz Schubert D. 383 (Klopstock's German) SATB and STB soli with orchestra D. 175 (vv. 1-4) SATB with orchestra Attila Stanco SATB Charles Villiers Stanford SATB, soloists & orchestra Stanislav Surin Unison with organ Giuseppe Tartini SSA odd verses (1-19) & amen František Tůma SATB and basso continuo Giuseppe Verdi SATB & orchestra Angel Viro SATB withorchestra Antonio Vivaldi A solo with string orchestra Georg Joseph Vogler SATB & organ(?) (v. 10 Fac ut ardeat only) Samuel Webbe SATB with organ Jan Zach SATB, with SATB soli and orchestra Vlad Zoborovski (vv. 1-2) TTBB or SATB and piano

Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above

• Anonymous — Stabat mater dolorosa 1
• Anonymous — Stabat mater dolorosa 2
• Anonymous — Stabat mater dolorosa 4
• Pasquale Cafaro — Stabat Mater
• Giovanni Carlo Maria Clari — Stabat mater dolorosa
• Giovanni Croce — Stabat Mater
• Francesco Feroci — Stabat mater
• Carlotta Ferrari — Stabat Mater
• Mariano Garau — Stabat Mater
• Michael J. Drake, Jr. — Stabat Mater
• Antonio Lotti — Stava Maria dolente
• Antonio Nola — Stabat Mater
• Pedro Rabaza — Stabat Mater
• Louis Spohr — Stabat mater dolorosa
• Bruno Vlahek — Stabat Mater - for soprano, baritone, mixed choir and two pianos
• Gaspar van Weerbeke — Stabat mater

Text and translations

Stabat Mater dolorosa in modern books

Latin text 1. Stabat Mater dolorosa Iuxta crucem lacrimosa Dum pendebat Filius. 2. Cuius animam gementem Contristatam et dolentem Pertransivit gladius. 3. O quam tristis et afflicta Fuit illa benedicta Mater unigeniti! 4. Quae moerebat et dolebat, Pia Mater, dum videbat Nati poenas incliti. 5. Quis est homo qui non fleret, Matrem Christi si videret In tanto supplicio? 6. Quis non posset contristari, Christi Matrem contemplari Dolentem cum Filio? 7. Pro peccatis suae gentis Vidit Iesum in tormentis, Et flagellis subditum. 8. Vidit suum dulcem natum Moriendo desolatum Dum emisit spiritum. 9. Eja 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 tecum, pie, flere, Crucifixo condolere, Donec ego vixero. 14. Juxta crucem tecum stare, Et me tibi sociare In planctu desidero. 15. Virgo virginum praeclara, Mihi jam non sis amara Fac me tecum plangere. 16. Fac, ut portem Christi mortem Passionis fac consortem, Et plagas recolere. 17. Fac me plagis vulnerari, Fac me cruce inebriari, Et cruore Filii. 18. Flammis ne urar succensus Per te, Virgo, sim defensus In die judicii. 19a. Fac me cruce custodiri Morte Christi praemuniri Confoveri gratia (Draghi, among others) 19b. Christe, cum sit hinc exíre, da per Matrem me veníre ad palmam victóriæ. (Solesmes, Verdi) 20. Quando corpus morietur, Fac, ut animae donetur Paradisi gloria. Amen.

English translation 1. At the cross her station keeping, stood the mournful mother weeping, close to Jesus to the last. 2. Through her soul, of joy bereaved, bowed with anguish, deeply grieved, now at length the sword hath passed. 3. Oh how sad and sore distressed was that mother highly blessed, of the sole-begotten One! 4. Christ above in torment hangs; She beneath beholds the pangs Of her dying glorious Son. 5. Is there one who would not weep, Whelm'd in miseries so deep Christ's dear Mother to behold? 6. Can the human heart refrain From partaking in her pain, In that Mother's pain untold? 7. Bruis'd, derided, curs'd, defil'd, She beheld her tender child All with bloody scourges rent. 8. For the sins of His own nation, Saw Him hang in desolation, Till His spirit forth He sent. 9. O thou Mother! fount of love! Touch my spirit from above; Make my heart with thine accord. 10. Make me feel as thou hast felt; Make my soul to glow and melt With the love of Christ our Lord. 11. Holy Mother! pierce me through; In my heart each wound renew Of my Saviour crucified. 12. Let me share with thee His pain, Who for all my sins was slain, Who for me in torments died. 13. Let me mingle tears with thee, Mourning Him who mourn'd for me, All the days that I may live. 14. By the cross with thee to stay, There with thee to weep and pray, Is all I ask of thee to give. 15. Virgin of all virgins best, Listen to my fond request Let me share thy grief divine. 16. Let me, to my latest breath, In my body bear the death Of that dying Son of thine. 17. Wounded with His every wound, Steep my soul till it hath swoon'd In His very blood away. 18. Be to me, O Virgin, nigh, Lest in flames I burn and die, In His awful Judgment day. 19. Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence, Be Thy Mother my defence, Be Thy cross my victory. [this verse does not translate the Latin v. 19] 20. While my body here decays, May my soul Thy goodness praise, Safe in Paradise with Thee. (tr. Edward Caswall, Lyra Catholica 1851)

Portuguese translation by Father Ricardo Dias Neto 1. De pé, a mãe dolorosa junto da cruz, lacrimosa, via o filho que pendia. 2. Na sua alma agoniada enterrou-se a dura espada de uma antiga profecia. 3. Oh! Quão triste e quão aflita entre todas, Mãe bendita, que só tinha aquele Filho. 4. Quanta angústia não sentia, Mãe piedosa quando via as penas do Filho seu! 5. Quem não chora vendo isso: contemplando a Mãe de Cristo num suplício tão enorme? 6. Quem haverá que resista se a Mãe assim se contrista padecendo com seu Filho? 7. Por culpa de sua gente vira Jesus inocente ao flagelo submetido. 8. Vê agora o seu amado pelo Pai abandonado, entregando seu espírito. 9. Faze, ó Mãe, fonte de amor que eu sinta o espinho da dor para contigo chorar. 10. Faze arder meu coração do Cristo Deus na paixão para que o possa agradar. 11. Ó Santa Mãe dá-me isto, trazer as chagas de Cristo gravadas no coração. 12. Do teu filho que por mim entrega-se a morte assim, divide as penas comigo. 13. Oh! Dá-me enquanto viver com Cristo compadecer chorando sempre contigo. 14. Junto à cruz eu quero estar quero o meu pranto juntar às lágrimas que derramas. 15. Virgem, que às virgens aclara, não sejas comigo avara dá-me contigo chorar. 16. Traga em mim do Cristo a morte, da Paixão seja consorte, suas chagas celebrando. 17. Por elas seja eu rasgado, pela cruz inebriado, pelo sangue de teu Filho! 18. No Julgamento consegue que às chamas não seja entregue quem por ti é defendido. 19. Quando do mundo eu partir daí-me ó Cristo conseguir, por vossa Mãe a vitória. 20. Quando meu corpo morrer possa a alma merecer do Reino Celeste a glória. Amén.

French translation 1. Debout, la mère des douleurs se tenait En pleurs auprès de la croix À laquelle son Fils était suspendu. 2. Son âme gémissante, Contristée et douloureuse, Fut transpercée d’un glaive. 3. Oh ! qu'elle fut triste et affligée Cette Mère bénie Du Fils unique ! 4. Elle s’affligeait et souffrait, Cette tendre Mère en voyant Les épreuves de son auguste Enfant. 5. Quel homme ne pleurerait En voyant la Mère du Christ Endurer si grand supplice ? 6. Qui pourrait, sans profonde tristesse, Contempler la mère du Christ Souffrir avec son Fils ? 7. Pour les péchés de ses frères, Elle vit Jésus livré aux tourments Et subir la flagellation. 8. Elle vit son doux Enfant Mourant abandonné, Lorsqu’il rendit l'esprit. 9. Ô Mère, ô source d’amour, Laissez-moi ressentir votre douleur Et pleurer avec vous. 10. Faites que mon cœur brûle D’amour pour le Christ, mon Dieu, Et ne songe qu’à lui plaire. 11. Mère sainte, daignez imprimer Les plaies du Crucifié Profondément en mon cœur. 12. De votre Enfant blessé Qui a tant daigné souffrir pour moi Partagez avec moi les épreuves. 13. Que je pleure avec vous en toute vérité ; Que je souffre avec le Crucifié Aussi longtemps que je vivrai. 14. Me tenir avec vous auprès de la Croix Vous rejoindre librement Dans les pleurs : tel est mon seul désir. 15. Vierge la plus noble des vierges, Ne me soyez pas sévère, Laissez-moi pleurer avec vous. 16. Que je porte en moi la mort du Christ; Que je partage sa Passion Et garde le souvenir de ses plaies. 17. Que ses blessures soient miennes; Que je sois enivré de la Croix Par amour de votre Fils. 18. Qu’enflammé et ardent Par vous, ô Vierge, je sois défendu Au jour du jugement. 19. Que je sois sauvé par la Croix, Que la mort du Christ soit mon rempart, Et sa grâce mon réconfort. 20. Et lorsque mon corps devra subir la mort, Faites que soit accordée à mon âme La gloire du paradis.

Italian translation

1. Stava la Madre, addolorata
ai piedi della croce,
in lacrime con il Figlio crocefisso.

2. La sua anima gemente,
triste e addolorata,
fu attraversata da una spada.

3. Quanto triste ed affranta
fu quella donna benedetta,
Madre dell'Unigenito.

4. La quale si affliggeva,
soffriva, e tremava
vedendo le pene del glorioso figlio.

5. Quale uomo non avrebbe pianto,
se avesse visto la Madre di Cristo
in tanto supplizio?

6. Chi non di sarebbe rattristato,
contemplando la Madre di Cristo
in lamenti con il proprio Figlio?

7. Per i peccati della sua stirpe,
vide Gesù tormentato
e sottoposto al flagello.

8. Vide il suo dolce nato morire,
abbandonato,
quando esalò l'ultimo respiro.

9. Orsù, Madre, fonte dell'amore,
fammi provare la forza del tuo dolore
affinché io possa piangere con te.

10. Fa' che il mio cuore si infiammi
nell'amore per Cristo Dio,
affinché possa a Lui piacere.

11. Santa Madre, fa' così:
imprime le piaghe del Crocifisso
saldamente nel mio cuore.

12. Di tuo figlio, trafitto,
degnatosi di tanto patire per me,
dividi con me le pene.

13. Fammi piangere con te,
condividere i dolori del crocefisso,
finché vivrò.

14. Accanto alla croce
stare con te ed a te unirmi
nel pianto desidero.

15. Vergine delle vergini la più insigne,
con me non essere dura,
fammi piangere con te.

16. Fammi partecipe della morte di Cristo,
fammi condividere i suoi patimenti
ed onorare le sue piaghe.

17. Fammi ferire dalle piaghe,
inebriato da questa croce,
per amore di tuo Figlio.

18. Infiammato ed acceso,
per tua intercessione, Vergine,
sia io difeso nel giorno del giudizio.

19. Fa' che sia protetto dalla croce,
fortificato dalla morte di Cristo,
confortato dalla grazia.

20. Quando il corpo morirà,
fa' che all'anima sia donata
la gloria del paradiso. Amen.
 

Stabat Mater dolorosa in Medieval England, as set by John Browne, Richard Davy and William Cornysh)

Latin text 1. Stabat Mater dolorosa Juxta crucem lacrimosa Dum pendebat Filius. 2. Cujus animam gementem Contristantem et dolentem Pertransivit gladius. 3. O quam tristis et afflicta Fuit illa benedicta Mater unigeniti! 4. Quae maerebat et dolebat, Pia Mater, dum videbat Poenas nati incliti. 5. Quis est homo qui non fleret, Matrem Christi si videret In tanto supplicio? 6. Quis non potest contristari, Christi Matrem contemplari Dolentem cum Filio? 7. Eia Mater, fons amoris Me sentire vim doloris Fac, ut tecum lugeam. 8. Fac, ut ardeat cor meum In amando Christum Deum Ut sibi complaceam. 9. Stabat Mater, rubens rosa, Juxta crucem lacrimosa, Videns ferre criminosa, Nullum reum crimine. 10. Et dum stetit generosa Juxta crucem lacrimosa, Plebs tunc canit clamorosa, "Crucifige, crucifige!" 11. O quam gravis illa poena, Tibi, Virgo poenae plena, Commemorans praeamoena, Jam versa in maestitiam. 12. Color erat non inventus In te, Mater, dum detentus Stabat natus, sic contentus Ad debellandum Sathanam. 13. Per haec nata praeamata, Natum tuum qui peccata, Delet cuncta perpetrata, Deprecare dulciflue. 14. Ut nostra, tergens ingrata, In nobis plantet firme grata, Per quem dando praelibata, Praestet aeterna requie. Amen.

English translation The grieving Mother  stood weeping beside the cross  where her Son was hanging. Through her weeping soul,  compassionate and grieving,  a sword passed. O how sad and afflicted  was that blessed Mother  of the only-begotten, who mourned and grieved,  seeing and bearing the torment  of her glorious child. Who is it that would not weep,  seeing Christ’s Mother  in such agony? Who could not feel compassion  on beholding the Holy Mother  suffering with her Son? O Mother, fountain of love,  make me feel the power of sorrow,  that I may grieve with you. Grant that my heart may burn  in the love of Christ my God,  that I may greatly please Him. The Mother stood, a red rose,  weeping beside the cross,  seeing Him bear a criminal’s fate  who was guilty of no crime. And as she stood,  full of heart,  grieving beside her son,  the people cried, “Crucify, crucify!” O how grievous was your pain,  Virgin full of sorrows,  when you recalled  former joys now turned to sadness. There was no colour in you, Mother,  when your Son stood detained,  yet content at Satan’s overthrow. Hence, best-beloved Lady,  beseech your Son,  who takes away all the sins we have committed,  with sweet prayer, that, wiping away our faults,  He might plant grace in us,  and fulfil this promise  in our eternal rest. Amen.

External links

• Wikipedia article
• The Catholic Encyclopedia
  
• The Stabat Mater, a musical journey through the ages
• Comparison of Analecta Hymnica text with 1973 version at WP:de
• Caswall's Lyra Catholica (see p. 182)