Words: Ascribed to Jacopone da Todi (ca. 1230–1306)
English translation by Edward Caswall (1814–1878)
Music: Traditional
Arrangement: Randall DeBruyn
At the Cross her station keeping,
stood the mournful Mother weeping,
close to Jesus to the last.
Through her heart, his sorrow sharing,
all his bitter anguish bearing,
now at length the sword has passed.
Can the human heart refrain from partaking in her pain,
in that Mother’s pain untold?
Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
she beheld her tender Child
all with bloody scourges rent.
Let me share with you his pain,
who for all my sins was slain,
who for me in torment died.
Let my tears run deep and free,
mourning him who mourned for me,
all the days that I may live.
By the Cross with thee to stay;
there with you to weep and pray,
this I ask of you to give.
