“The most perfect and touching movement that has ever come from the pen of any composer.”
-Rousseau commenting on Pergolesi’s first movement: Stabat Mater Dolorosa
This is a FREE EVENT, but we are in need of financial support for this large effort. If you are interested in being a sponsor for this event, please contact Lucia Lopez at the Cathedral: llopez@thecathedral.info or 903-592-1617 ext. 133 or click HERE to use Venmo
This sacred masterpiece will be performed by vocal soloists, Bishop Gorman students, UT Tyler Concert Chorale, and string ensemble. A piece of Sacred Art will be presented by Robert Puschautz, Stabat Mater Art Fellow of the St. Philip Institute.
Soprano soloists: Lucia Lopez & Kara Story
Mezzo soloists: Suzanne Liles & Catherine Elueze
Strings: Longview String Quartet
Guest Conductor: Dr. Cameron Rose, Choral director at UT Tyler
Sacred Art Presentation: Robert Puschautz
The Stabat Mater Dolorosa is a profound liturgical poem detailing the divine maternal love of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the foot of her Son’s Crucifixion. It is a communicative journey for the willing participant. The text starts as an observational monologue and transitions into consolations to the Sorrowful Mother while pleading for her to allow us to participate both in her anguish and love for Christ. Penultimately, the participant demands that the Holy Mother allow them to share in the Passion of Christ. Finally, the participant speaks directly to Christ and begs to be allowed into Paradise.
Stabat Mater Dolorosa is considered one of the seven greatest Latin hymns of all time. It is based upon the prophecy of Simeon that a sword was to pierce the heart of His mother, Mary (Lk 2:35). The hymn originated in the 13th century during the peak of Franciscan devotion to the crucified Jesus and has been attributed to Pope Innocent III (d. 1216), St. Bonaventure, or more commonly, Jacopone da Todi (1230-1306), who is considered by most to be the real author.
The hymn is often associated with the Stations of the Cross. In 1727 it was prescribed as a Sequence for the Mass of the Seven Sorrows of Mary (September 15) where it is still used today.
From the Liturgia Horarum. Translation by Fr. Edward Caswall (1814-1878)
Allow this live perfomance to fill your soul with the suffering beauty of this sacred baroque masterpiece!
Please enjoy these supurb interpretations of Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater:
Latin Text with English Translation
translation by Hans van der Velden
1. Stabat Mater dolorosa
Iuxta crucem lacrimosa
Dum pendebat Filius.
2. Cuius animam gementem
Contristatam et dolentem
Pertransivit gladius.
3. O quam tristis et afflicta
Fuit illa benedicta
Mater unigeniti!
4. Quae moerebat et dolebat,
Pia Mater, dum videbat
Nati poenas incliti.
5. Quis est homo qui non fleret,
Matrem Christi si videret
In tanto supplicio?
6. Vidit suum dulcem natum
Moriendo desolatum
Dum emisit spiritum.
7. Eja Mater, fons amoris
Me sentire vim doloris
Fac, ut tecum lugeam.
8. Fac, ut ardeat cor meum
In amando Christum Deum
Ut sibi complaceam.
9. Sancta Mater, istud agas,
Crucifixi fige plagas
cordi meo valide.
10. Fac ut portem Christi mortem,
passionis fac consortem,
et plagas recolere.
11. Inflammatus et accensus
per te, Virgo, sim defensus
in die iudicii.
Fac me cruce custodiri
morte Christi praemuniri
confoveri gratia.
12. Quando corpus morietur,
fac ut animæ donetur
Paradisi gloria. Amen.
1. The grieving Mother
stood weeping beside the cross
where her Son was hanging.
2. Through her weeping soul,
compassionate and grieving,
a sword passed.
3. O how sad and afflicted
was that blessed Mother
of the only-begotten!
4. Who mourned and grieved,
seeing and bearing the torment
of her glorious child.
5. Who is it that would not weep,
seeing Christ’s Mother
in such agony?
6. She saw her sweet child
die desolate,
as he gave up His spirit.
7. O Mother, fountain of love,
make me feel the power of sorrow,
that I may grieve with you.
8. Grant that my heart may burn
in the love of Christ my God,
that I may greatly please Him.
9. Holy Mother, may you do thus:
place the wounds of the Crucified
deep in my heart.
10. Make me to bear Christ’s death,
sharing in His passion,
and commemorate his wounds.
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. When my body dies,
grant that to my soul is given
the glory of paradise. Amen.