About the Pergolesi “Stabat Mater”

The composer…

…is Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710 – 1736), an Italian composer known for both sacred music (particularly the Stabat Mater and his Masses) and secular works (particularly his operas). Though he died in poverty at age 26, his work became very popular after his death, particularly La Serva Padrona, his best-known opera, and the Stabat Mater, which was the last piece he completed before his death. Indeed, his limited compositional output and early death led to several spurious composers, falsely attributed to Pergolesi posthumously to increase their reach and popularity.

The piece…

…is the Stabat Mater, a 13th-century Latin hymn to Mary, which depicts her suffering as the mother of Jesus Christ during his crucifixion. Its author is disputed, but is believed to be either a Franciscan friar (Jacopone da Todi) or a Pope (Innocent III). The hymn has been set by dozens of composers, both in Latin and in translation, and it is frequently recited or sung in conjunction with the Stations of the Cross, particularly during Lent.

The translation…

…is as follows:

1. Stabat Mater dolorosa Iuxta crucem lacrimosa Dum pendebat Filius.	1. The grieving Mother stood weeping beside the cross where her Son was hanging.
2. Cuius animam gementem Contristatam et dolentem Pertransivit gladius.	2. Through her weeping soul, compassionate and grieving, a sword passed.
3. O quam tristis et afflicta Fuit illa benedicta Mater unigeniti!	3. O how sad and afflicted was that blessed Mother of the only-begotten!
4. Quae moerebat et dolebat, Pia Mater, dum videbat Nati poenas incliti.	4. Who mourned and grieved, seeing and bearing the torment of her glorious child.
5. Quis est homo qui non fleret, Matrem Christi si videret In tanto supplicio? Quis non posset contristari, Piam matrem contemplari Dolentem cum filio? Pro peccatis suae gentis Vidit Iesum in tormentis Et flagellis subditum.	5. Who is it that would not weep, seeing Christ’s Mother in such agony? Who could not be saddened in the blessed Mother beholding suffering with her only Son? For the sings of His people she saw Jesus in torments and subjected to whipping.
6. Vidit suum dulcem natum Moriendo desolatum Dum emisit spiritum.	6. She saw her sweet child die desolate, as he gave up His spirit.
7. Eja Mater, fons amoris Me sentire vim doloris Fac, ut tecum lugeam.	7. O Mother, fountain of love, make me feel the power of sorrow, that I may grieve with you.
8. Fac, ut ardeat cor meum In amando Christum Deum Ut sibi complaceam.	8. Grant that my heart may burn in the love of Christ my God, that I may greatly please Him.
9. Sancta Mater, istud agas, Crucifixi fige plagas cordi meo valide. Tui nati vulnerati, Tam dignati pro me pati, Poenas mecum divide. Fac me vere tecum flere, Crucifixo condolere, Donec ego vixero. Iuxta crucem tecum stare, Te libenter sociare In planctu desidero. Virgo virginum praeclara, Mihi iam non sis amara, Fac me tecum plangere.	9. Holy Mother, may you do thus: place the wounds of the Crucified deep in my heart. Of your wounded Son who deigned to suffer so much for me, share His pains with me. Let me sincerely weep with you, bemoan the Crucified One, for as long as I live. To stand beside the Cross with you and gladly share the weeping, this I desire. Virgin among virgins, most noble, be not bitter with me, make me to lament with you.
10. Fac ut portem Christi mortem, passionis fac consortem, et plagas recolere. Fac me plagis vulnerari, Cruce hac inebriari Ob amorem filii.	10. Make me to bear Christ’s death, sharing in His passion, and commemorate his wounds. Let me be wounded with His wounds, by the Cross inebriated, because of love.
11. Inflammatus et accensus per te, Virgo, sim defensus in die iudicii. Fac me cruce custodiri morte Christi praemuniri confoveri gratia.	11. Inflame and set on fire, may I be defended by you, Virgin, on the day of judgment. Let me be guarded by the cross, armed by Christ’s death and His cherished by His grace.
12. Quando corpus morietur, fac ut animæ donetur Paradisi gloria. Amen.	12. When my body dies, grant that to my soul is given the glory of paradise. Amen.