Marian Devotion: Stabat Mater

As our month-long celebration of the Blessed Virgin draws to a close, we pause to meditate on the sorrows Our Lady endured throughout her life, but specifically at the foot of the cross. The Stabat Mater is a powerful hymn written in the thirteenth century. Sung on the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, we are reminded of the suffering and sacrifice that Mary, Mother of God, chose, our of love, obedience, and faith in the Lord. May we be more like Mary, and through our imitation of her, be brought to Jesus Christ, her beloved Son. O thou Mother, fount of love! Touch my spirit from above, make my heart with thine accord.

At the Cross her station keeping,
stood the mournful Mother weeping,
close to her son to the last.


Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,
all His bitter anguish bearing,
now at length the sword has passed.


O how sad and sore distressed
was that Mother, highly blest,
of the sole-begotten One.


Christ above in torment hangs,
she beneath beholds the pangs
of her dying glorious Son.

Is there one who would not weep,
whelmed in miseries so deep,
Christ's dear Mother to behold?


Can the human heart refrain
from partaking in her pain,
in that Mother's pain untold?


For the sins of His own nation,
She saw Jesus wracked with torment,
All with scourges rent:


She beheld her tender Child,
Saw Him hang in desolation,
Till His spirit forth He sent.


O thou Mother! fount of love!
Touch my spirit from above,
make my heart with thine accord:

Make me feel as thou hast felt;
make my soul to glow and melt
with the love of Christ my Lord.


Holy Mother! pierce me through,
in my heart each wound renew
of my Savior crucified:


Let me share with thee His pain,
who for all my sins was slain,
who for me in torments died.


Let me mingle tears with thee,
mourning Him who mourned for me,
all the days that I may live:


By the Cross with thee to stay,
there with thee to weep and pray,
is all I ask of thee to give.

Virgin of all virgins blest!,
Listen to my fond request:
let me share thy grief divine;


Let me, to my latest breath,
in my body bear the death
of that dying Son of thine.


Wounded with His every wound,
steep my soul till it hath swooned,
in His very Blood away;


Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
lest in flames I burn and die,
in His awful Judgment Day.


Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence,
by Thy Mother my defense,
by Thy Cross my victory;


When my body dies,
let my soul be granted
the glory of Paradise. Amen.