flames I burn and die, In his awful Judgment day. Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence, Be Thy Mother my defence, Be Thy Cross my victory; While my body here decays, May my soul thy goodness praise, Safe in Paradise with Thee. – Translation by Edward Caswall || The sorrowful mother was standing beside the Cross weeping, while the Son was hanging. Whose moaning soul, depressed and grieving, the sword has passed through. O how sad and stricken was that blessed [woman], mother of the Only-begotten [one]! Who was mourning and suffering, the pious Mother, while she was watching the punishments of the glorious son. Who is the person who would not weep, if he had seen the mother of Christ in such great suffering? Who would not be able to be saddened to behold the Mother of Christ grieving with the Son? For the sins of his people she saw Jesus in torments, and subjected to lashes. She saw her sweet Son dying forsaken, while he sent forth [his] spirit. Come now, O Mother, fountain of love Make me feel the power of sorrow that I might mourn with you. Grant that my heart may burn in loving Christ the God that I might please him. O Holy Mother, may you do that, fix the wounds of the cross mightily in my heart. Of your wounded son, [who] so deigned to suffer for me, Share [his] penalties with me. Make me cry dutifully with you, to suffer (with him) on the cross, as long as I shall have lived. To stand by the Cross with you, to unite me to you in weeping [this] I desire. O noble Virgin of virgins, Be not bitter with me now, Make me mourn with you. Grant that I might bear the death of Christ, Make [me] kindred in the passion, and contemplate the wounds. Make me injured by the wounds, make me drunken by the Cross, and by the blood of the Son. Lest I be consumed burned by flames, through you, O Virgin, may I be defended on the day of judgement. O Christ, when it is time to depart hence, grant me to come through the Mother, to the palm of victory. When the body will decay, grant that it may be bestowed on [my] soul the glory of paradise. Amen. |} Musical settings Composers who have written settings