Stabat Mater

Mater Dolorosa became an iconic type,
as in this setting by Tiziano (Titian)

The opening words of two companion hymns, one of which (Stabat Mater Dolorosa) is in liturgical use, while the other (Stabat Mater Speciosa) is not. They celebrate the emotions of Our Lady at the Cross and at the Manger -- Calvary and Bethlehem -- respectively.

Stabat mater dolorosa

The hymn was well known to all classes by the end of the fourteenth century. The Stabat Mater Dolorosa is thought to originate from Franciscan sources in the 13th century. The monk Jacopone da Todi (ca. 1228-1306), Pope Innocentius III (ca. 1160-1216), and the 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.

Stabat mater speciosa

This is a counterpart version of the poem, which describes the joy of Maria after the birth of Jesus. It is clearly based on one of the "Dolorosa"-versions, but the rhyming is certainly not as good. Nevertheless, the "Speciosa" dates back from the fifteenth century and has also been put to music, for instance by Liszt and Diepenbrock. It was first published in an edition of the Italian poems of Jacopone published at Brescia in 1495 (but Jacopone isn't thought to be the author) but the Speciosa fell into almost complete oblivion until A.F. Ozanam transcribed it from a fifteenth-century manuscript in the Bibliothèque Nationale for his Poètes Franciscains en Italie au Treizième siècle, Paris, 1852.

Musical settings at CPDL

Stabat mater dolorosa

Emanuele d'Astorga Estêvão de Brito Gregorian chant Traditional arr. by Abel di Marco Fabio Fresi Jose Miguel Galán Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki Juan Frances de Iribarren Huub de Lange Orlando di Lasso João de Deus Castro Lobo (8th verse only)

Jorge Moreira Giovanni Maria Nanino Juan Gutierrez de Padilla Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina Giovanni Battista Pergolesi Gioacchino Rossini Josef Rheinberger Franz Schubert Traditional Angel Viro Antonio Vivaldi

Text and translations

Stabat Mater dolorosa

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. 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 tecum, pie, flere, Crucifixo condolere, Donec ego vixero. 14. Iuxta crucem tecum stare, Et me tibi sociare In planctu desidero. 15. Virgo virginum praeclara, Mihi iam 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 iudicii. 19. Christe, cum sit hinc exire, Da per Matrem me venire Ad palmam victoriae. 20. Quando corpus morietur, Fac, ut animae donetur Paradisi gloria. Amen. Alternative version of stanza 19 19. Fac me cruce custodiri Morte Christi praemuniri Confoveri gratia

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. 20. While my body here decays, May my soul Thy goodness praise, Safe in Paradise with Thee.

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.

Stabat Mater speciosa

Latin text (8a, 8b and 13b have no counterpart in the "Dolorosa")

1. Stabat Mater speciosa Iuxta foenum gaudiosa Dum iacebat parvulus 2. Cuius animam gaudentem Laetabundam et ferventem Pertransivit iubilus 3. O quam laeta et beata Fuit illa immaculata Mater unigeniti! 4. Quae gaudebat et ridebat, Exultabat cum videbat Nati partum incliti 5. Quis est, qui non gauderet, Christi Matrem si videret In tanto solacio? 6. Quis non posset collaetari, Piam Matrem contemplari Ludentem cum Filio? 7. Pro peccatis suae gentis Vidit Iesum cum iumentis, Et algori subditum. 8. Vidit suum dulcem natum Vagientum adoratum Vili diversorio 8a. Nati Christus in praesepe Coeli cives canunt laete Cum immenso gaudio 8b. Stabat senex cum puella Non cum verbo nec loquela Stupescentes cordibus 9. Eia Mater, fons amoris Me sentire vim ardoris Fac, ut tecum sentiam 10. Fac, ut ardeat cor meum In amando Christum Deum Ut sibi complaceam

11. Sancta Mater, istud agas, Pone nostro ducas plagas Cordi fixas valide. 12. Tui nati coelo lapsi, Iam dignati foeno nasci, Poenas mecum divide. 13. Fac me tecum congaudere Iesulino cohaerere Donec ego vixero 13a. In me sistat ardor tui Puerino fac me frui Dum sum in exilio 14. Hunc ardorem fac communem, Ne me facias immunem, Ab hoc desiderio. 15. Virgo virginum praeclara, Mihi iam non sis amara Fac me parvum rapere 16. Fac, ut portem pulchrum fortem Qui nascendo vicit mortem, Volens vitam tradere. 17. Fac me tecum satiari, Nato tuo inebriari, Stans inter tripudia. 18. Inflammatus et accensus Obstupescit omnis sensus Tali decommercio. 19. Fac me nato custodiri Verbo Christi praemuniri Conservari gratia. 20. Quando corpus morietur, Fac, ut animae donetur Tui nati visio.

External links

• Wikipedia article
• The Catholic Encyclopedia
  
• The Stabat Mater, a musical journey through the ages