STABAT MATER.
Reading edition
Stabat Mater dolorosa, Juxta crucem lacrymosa, Dum pendebat Filius: Cujus animam gementem, Contristatam et dolentem, Pertransivit gladius. ENGLISH TRANSLATION[8] Broken-hearted, lo, and tearful, Bowed before that Cross so fearful, Stands the Mother by the Son! Through her bosom sympathizing In his mortal agonizing Deep and keen the steel has gone. GREEK TRANSLATION.[9] Ἵστη Μήτηρ ἀλγέουσα παρὰ σταυρῷ δακρύουσα, ἐκρημνᾶτο ὡς Τέκνον· ἧς τὴν ψυχὴν στενάχουσαν, πολύστονον, πενθέουσαν διέπειρε φάσγανον. O quam tristis et afflicta Fuit illa benedicta Mater Unigeniti! Quæ mœrebat et dolebat, Pia Mater, dum videbat Nati pœnas inclyti. How afflicted, how distressed, Stands she now, that Virgin blessed, By that tree of woe and scorn; Mark her tremble, droop, and languish, Gazing on that awful anguish Of her Child, her Only-Born! Φεῦ τοῦ ἄχθους τῆς τε λύπης εὐλογημένης ἐκείνης Μήτρος τοῦ Μονογένους· ἣ ἤλγει καὶ ἠνιᾶτο, θεοσεβὴς, ὡς ὡρᾶτο Υἱοῦ τ' ἄλγη εὐκλεοῦς. Quis est homo qui non fleret, Matrem Christi si videret In tanto supplicio? Quis non posset contristari, Christi Matrem contemplari Dolentem cum Filio? Who may see, nor share her weeping, Christ the Saviour's mother keeping Grief's wild watch, so sad and lone? Who behold her bosom sharing Every pang his soul is bearing, Nor receive them in his own? Τίς ἀνθρώπων οὐκ ἂν κλαίοι, εἰ τὴν Χριστοῦ Μήτερ' ἴδοι τοιαῦτ' ἀνεχομένην; τίς δύναιτ' ἂν οὐκ ἄχθεσθαι τῷ τὴν Χριστοῦ Μήτερ' ἴδεσθαι σὺν Υἱῷ λυπουμένην; Pro peccatis suæ gentis, Vidit Jesum in tormentis, Et flagellis subditum. Vidit suum dulcem Natum Moriendo desolatum, Dum emisit spiritum. Ransom for a world's offending, Lo, her Son and God is bending That dear head to wounds and blows; 'Mid the body's laceration, And the spirit's desolation, As his life-blood darkly flows. Πρὸ τῶν κακῶν οἵο γένους 'φαν' αὐτῇ ὑβρισθεὶς Ἰησοῦς καὶ μάστιξιν ἔκδοτος· εἶδεν ἕον γλυκὺν παῖδα ἐκθνήσκοντα, μονωθέντα, ὡς ἐξέπνει ἄθλιος. Eia Mater, fons amoris, Me sentire vim doloris Fac ut tecum lugeam; Fac ut ardeat cor meum In amando Christum Deum, Ut sibi complaceam. Fount of love, in that dread hour, Teach me all thy sorrow's power, Bid me share its grievous load; O'er my heart thy spirit pouring, Bid it burn in meet adoring Of its martyred Christ and God! Ὦ συ Μήτερ, πήγη ἔρωτος, τῆς λύπης με πάθειν ἄχθος δός, σοι ἵνα συμπαθῶ· δὸς φλέγεσθαι κῆρ τὸ ἐμόν τῷ φιλεῖν τὸν Χριστὸν Θεόν, ὅπως οἱ εὐδοκέω. Sancta Mater! istud agas, Crucifixi fige plagas Cordi meo valide. Tui Nati vulnerati, Tam dignati pro me pati, Pœnas mecum divide. Be my prayer, O Mother! granted, And within my heart implanted Every gash whose crimson tide, From that spotless victim streaming, Deigns to flow for my redeeming, Mother of the crucified! Ἅγνη Μήτερ, τόδε δράσον· Σταυρωθέντος πλήγας πήξον μοι ἐν κῆρι κρατερῶς· σοίο τοῦ τρωθέντος Τέκνου, ὃς πρὸ ἐμοῦ πάσχειν ἤξιου, μέρος ποινῶν μοι διδούς. Fac me tecum pie flere, Crucifixo condolere, Donec ego vixero. Juxta crucem tecum stare, Et me tibi sociare In planctu desidero. Every sigh of thy affliction, Every pang of crucifixion— Teach me all their agony! At his cross for ever bending, In thy grief for ever blending, Mother, let me live and die! Δός σοί μ' εὐσεβῶς συλλυπεῖν, Σταυρωθέντι δὸς συναλγεῖν, ἕως μοι βιώσεται· πρὸς σταυρῷ σοι συνίστασθαι, σοί τε μοίρας μετέχεσθαι τοῦ πενθεῖν ὀρέγομαι. Virgo virginum præclara, Mihi jam non sis amara, Fac me tecum plangere. Fac ut portem Christi mortem, Passionis fac consortem, Et plagas recolere. Virgin of all virgins highest, Humble prayer who ne'er deniest, Teach me how to share thy woe! All Christ's Passion's depth revealing, Quicken every quivering feeling All its bitterness to know! Παρθένε, τῶν κόρων λαμπρά, ἤδη μή μοι ἴσθι πικρά, δός μέ σοι συναλγέειν· δὸς βαστάζειν Χριστοῦ πότμον, τοῦ πάθους ποίει με μέτοχον, τάς τε πλήγας ἐννοεῖν. Fac me plagis vulnerari, Cruce hac inebriari, Et cruore Filii. Flammis ne urar succensus, Per te, Virgo, sim defensus, In die judicii. Bid me drink that heavenly madness, Mingled bliss of grief and gladness, Of the Cross of thy dear Son! With his love my soul inflaming, Plead for it, O Virgin! claiming Mercy at his judgment throne! Δὸς ταῖς πλήγαις με τρωθῆναι, τῷδε σταυρῷ μεθυσθῆναι καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ αἵματι. πυρὶ ἀφθέντα μὴ καυθῆναι, ἀλλὰ διὰ σοῦ σωθῆναι κρίσεως ἐφ' ἥματι. Christe, cum sit hinc exire, Da per matrem me venire Ad palmam victoriæ.[10] Quando corpus morietur, Fac ut animæ donetur Paradisi gloria. Shelter at that Cross, oh! yield me! By the death of Christ, oh! shield me! Comfort with thy grace and aid! And, O Mother! bid my spirit Joys of Paradise inherit, When its clay to rest is laid! Ὁπόθ' ὥρα μ' ἀπέρχεσθαι, διὰ Μήτρος δὸς φέρεσθαι, Χριστὲ, νικητήρια· τεθνέωτος χρωτὸς ἐμοῦ, εὔχομαί μοι ψυχῇ δίδου οὐρανοῦ τὰ χάρματα.