Arvo Pärt (1935 -)

Stabat Mater dolorosa
Iuxta crucem lacrimosa
Dum pendebat Filius.

The grieving Mother stood
weeping beside the cross
where her Son was hanging.

Cuius animam gementem
Contristatam et dolentem
Pertransivit gladius.

O quam tristis et afflicta
Fuit illa benedicta
Mater unigeniti!

Through her weeping soul,
compassionate and grieving,
a sword passed.

O how sad and afflicted
was that blessed Mother
of the only-begotten,

Quae moerebat et dolebat,
Pia Mater, dum videbat
Nati poenas incliti.

who mourned and grieved,
seeing and bearing the torment
of her glorious child.

Quis est homo qui non fleret,
Matrem Christi si videret
In tanto supplicio?

Quis non posset contristari,
Christi Matrem contemplari
Dolentem cum Filio?

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?

Pro peccatis suae gentis
Vidit Iesum in tormentis,
Et flagellis subditum.

Vidit suum dulcem natum
Moriendo desolatum
Dum emisit spiritum.

For the sake of his peoples' sins,
she saw Jesus tormented,
and subjected to whips.

She saw her sweet child
die desolate,
as he gave up his spirit.

Eja Mater, fons amoris
Me sentire vim doloris
Fac, ut tecum lugeam.

Fac, ut ardeat cor meum
In amando Christum Deum
Ut sibi complaceam.

Sancta Mater, istud agas,
Crucifixi fige plagas
Cordi meo valide.

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.

Holy Mother, make
the wounds of the Crucifixion
in my own heart.

Tui nati vulnerati,
Tam dignati pro me pati,
Poenas mecum divide.

Let me share the pain
of your own wounded Son
who chose to suffer so much for me.

Fac me tecum, pie, flere,
Crucifixo condolere,
Donec ego vixero.

Let me weep with you, O pious one,
and show compassion for the crucified
as long as I live.

Juxta crucem tecum stare,
Et me tibi sociare
In planctu desidero.

I wish to stand with you next to the Cross
and to be your companion
in lamentation.

Virgo virginum praeclara,
Mihi jam non sis amara
Fac me tecum plangere.

Most illustrious virgin of virgins,
Do not be harsh with me,
allow me to weep with you.

Fac, ut portem Christi mortem
Passionis fac consortem,
Et plagas recolere.

Grant that I might bear
the suffering and death of Christ,
and receive his wounds.

Fac me plagis vulnerari,
Fac me cruce inebriari,
Et cruore Filii.

Inflammatus et accensus
Per te, Virgo, sim defensus
In die iudicii.

Fac me cruce custodiri
Morte Christi praemuniri
Confoveri gratia.

Wound me with his wounds,
make me drunk with the Cross
and the blood of your son.

Burning and on fire,
let me be defended by you, O Virgin,
on the Day of Judgment.

May I be guarded by the cross,
protected by Christ's death,
nurtured by grace.

Quando corpus morietur,
Fac, ut animae donetur
Paradisi gloria. Amen.

When my body dies,
let my soul be given
the glory of paradise. Amen.

13th century Franciscan hymn

©Hans van der Velden

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