Stabat Mater dolorósa – Latin Prayer

Stabat Mater dolorósa

At the Cross her station keeping,

Juxta Crucem lacrimósa,

Stood the mournful Mother weeping,

Dum pendébat Fílius.

Close to Jesus to the last.

Cujus ánimam geméntem,

Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,

Contristátam et doléntem

All His bitter anguish bearing

Pertransívit gládius.

Now at length the sword had passed.

O quam tristis et afflícta

Oh, how sad and sore distressed

Fuit illa benedícta

Was that Mother highly blessed

Mater Unigéniti!

Of the sole begotten One!

Quæ mærébat et dolébat,

Christ above in torment hangs,

Pia Mater, dum vidébat

She beneath beholds the pangs

Nati pœnas íncliti.

Of her dying, glorious Son.

Quis est homo, qui non fleret,

Is there one who would not weep

Matrem Christi si vidéret

‘Whelmed in miseries so deep

In tanto supplício?

Christ’s dear Mother’s pain untold.

Quis non posset contristári,

Can the human heart refrain

Christi Matrem contemplári

From partaking in her pain,

Doléntem cum Fílio?

In that Mother’s pain untold?

Pro peccátis suæ gentis

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,

Vidit Jesum in torméntis

She beheld her tender Child,

Et flagéllis súbditum.

All with bloody scourges rent.

Vidit suum dulcem Natum

For the sins of His own nation

Moriéndo desolátum,

Saw Him hang in desolation

Dum emísit spíritum.

Till His spirit forth He sent.

Eja, Mater, fons amóris,

O sweet Mother! fount of love,

Me sentíre vim dolóris

Touch my spirit from above,

Fac, ut tecum lúgeam.

Make my heart with yours accord.

Fac, ut árdeat cor meum

Make me feel as you have felt;

In amándo Christum Deum,

Make my soul to glow and melt

Ut sibi compláceam.

With the love of Christ, my Lord.

Sancta Mater, istud agas,

Holy Mother, pierce me through,

Crucifixi fige plagas

In my heart each wound renew

Cordi meo válide.

Of my Saviour crucified.

Tui Nati vulneráti,

Let me share with you His pain,

Tam dignáti pro me pati,

Who for all our sins was slain,

Pœnas mecum dívide.

Who for me in torments died.

Fac me tecum pie flere,

Mix’d with yours let my tears be,

Crucifíxo condolére,

Mourning Him Who mourned for me,

Donec ego víxero.

All the days that I may live.

Juxta Crucem tecum stare

By the Cross with you to stay,

Et me tibi sociáre

There with you to weep and pray,

In planctu desídero.

Is all I ask of you to give.

Virgo vírginum præclára.

Virgin of all virgins blest!

Mihi jam non sis amára:

Listen to my fond request:

Fac me tecum plángere.

Let me share that grief of yours.

Fac, ut portem Christi mortem,

Let me, to my latest breath,

Passiónis fac consórtem

In my body bear the death

Et plagas recólere.

Of that dying Son of yours.

Fac me plagis vulnerári,

Wounded with His every wound,

Fac me Cruce inebriári

Steep my soul till it has swooned

Et cruóre Fílii.

In His very Blood away.

Flammis ne urar succénsus,

Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,

Per te, Virgo, sim defénsus

Lest in flames I burn and die,

In die judícii.

In this awful judgment day.

Christe, cum sit hinc exíre.

Christ, when You shall call me hence,

Da per Matrem me veníre

Be Your Mother my defense,

Ad palmam victóriæ.

Be Your Cross my victory.

Quando corpus moriétur,

While my body here decays,

Fac, ut ánimæ donétur

May my soul Your goodness praise,

Paradísi glória.

Safe in heaven eternally.

Amen. Allelúja.

Amen. Alleluia.