The triduum, the three holiest days of the Christian year, begin on Maundy Thursday evening, and conclude with the Easter Vigil, which begins at sundown on Saturday evening -- the days being reckoned in the church's original way of reckoning: the Jewish calendar. Here, for Good Friday, the day of the crucifixion of Jesus, an image and a meditation.
| Stabat Mater dolorósa Juxta Crucem lacrimósa, Dum pendébat Filius. Cujus ánimam geméntem, Contristátam et doléntem, Pertransivit gladius. O quam tristis et afflicta Fuit illa benedicta Mater Unigéniti! Quae maerébat, et dolébat, Pia Mater, dum vidébat Nati poenas inclyti. Quis est homo, qui non fleret, Matrem Christi si vidéret In tanto supplicio? Quis non posset contristári, Christi Matrem contemplári Doléntem cum Filio? Pro peccátis suae gentis Vidit Jesum in torméntis, Et flagéllis súbditum. Vidit suum dulcem natum Moriéndo desolátum, Dum emisit spíritum. Eja mater, fons amóris, Me sentíre vim dolóris Fac, ut tecum lúgeam. Fac, ut árdeat cor meum In amándo Christum Deum, Ut sibi compláceam. Sancta Mater, istud agas Crucifixi fige plagas Cordi meo válide. Tui nati vulneráti, Tam dignáti pro me pati, Poenas mecum dívide. Fac me tecum pie flere, Crucifixo condolére, Donec ego víxero. Juxta Crucem tecum stare, Et me tibi sociáre In planctu desídero. Virgo vírginum praeclára, Mihi jam non sis amára: Fac me tecum plángere. Fac, ut portem Christi mortem, Passiónis fac consórtem, Et plagas recólere. Fac me plagis vulnerári, Fac me Cruce inebriári, Et cruó re Fílii. Flammis ne urar succénsus, Per te, Virgo, sim defénsus In die judícii. Christe, cum sit hinc exíre Da per Matrem me veníre Ad palmam victóriae. Quando corpus moriétur, Fac, ut ánimae donétur Paradísi glória. Amen. Allelúja. | At the cross her station keeping, Mary stood in sorrow weeping When her Son was crucified. While she waited in her anguish, Seeing Christ in torment languish, Bitter sorrow pierced her heart. With what pain and desolation, With what noble resignation, Mary watched her dying Son. Ever-patient in her yearning Though her tear-filled eyes were burning, Mary gazed upon her Son. Who, that sorrow contemplating, On that passion meditating, Would not share the Virgin's grief? Christ she saw, for our salvation, Scourged with cruel acclamation, Bruised and beaten by the rod. Christ she saw with life-blood failing, All her anguish unavailing, Saw him breathe his very last. Mary, fount of love's devotion, Let me share with true emotion All the sorrow you endured. Virgin, ever interceding, Hear me in my fervent pleading: Fire me with your love of Christ. Mother, may this prayer be granted: That Christ's love may be implanted In the depths of my poor soul. At the cross, your sorrow sharing, All your grief and torment bearing, Let me stand and mourn with you. Fairest maid of all creation, Queen of hope and consolation, Let me feel your grief sublime. Virgin, in your love befriend me, At the Judgment Day defend me. Help me by your constant prayer. Savior, when my life shall leave me, Through your mother's prayers receive me With the fruits of victory. Virgin of all virgins blest! Listen to my fond request: Let me share your grief divine Let me, to my latest breath, In my body bear the death Of your dying Son divine. Wounded with His every wound, Steep my soul till it has swooned In His very Blood away. Be to me, O Virgin, nigh, Lest in flames I burn and die, In His awe-full judgment day. Savior, when my life shall leave me, Through your mother's prayers receive me With the fruits of victory. While my body here decays May my soul your goodness praise, Safe in heaven eternally. Amen Alleluia. |
The hymn dates back to the 13th century. A thorough, if somewhat dated, article is in the older Catholic Encyclopedia, a project of English Roman Catholics at the turn of the 20th century. See more here.
-- Dan Damon
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