Stabat Mater

As we near Holy Week and face the little difficulties that can make the day so long may we remember that Mary STOOD at the cross. She didn't crumple, didn't fall to her knees, she STOOD. May each of us have the strength to stand when persecuted for our faith and to stand for Christ, but the wisdom to fall to our knees in adoration of Christ when apropos.


Stabat Mater

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.

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?

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
she beheld her tender Child
All with scourges rent:

For the sins of His own nation,
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 the 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;

While my body here decays,
may my soul Thy goodness praise,
safe in paradise with Thee.
Amen.

Ummmm...

I'm confused. Let's just leave it at that for now. People always say how lucky one is to be smart. What they forget is that to be smart is to never be satisfied with a partial answer. So, when one's core beliefs are challenged one isn't content to take others' words for it. One must read and understand for one's self.

I guess that means it's Theology 101 for me. Here's hoping there's enough time in life to get it all in.

I have the faith, but now I need the academic underpinnings. I have the reason, but now I need the deeper knowledge to back up the basics.

Faith suffices for the soul, but when one must defend one's foundations to another, professionally that is, one must have more.

I must heed the advice I gave to a friend this week, "Keep your head down and your mouth shut."

Yes, contemplation and acting like a sponge. That'll be me. Pineapples under the sea anyone?!