September 15th, from the Tridentine Mass:
There stood by the cross of Jesus,
His mother, and His mother's sister Mary
of Cleophas, and Salome, and Mary
Magdalen.
Woman, behold thy son, said Jesus.
To the disciple…Behold thy mother.
O God, at Whose Passion, according
to the prophecy of Simeon, a sword of
sorrow pierced the most sweet soul of
the glorious Virgin and Mother Mary:
mercifully grant, that we who with
devotion honor her Sorrows, may
obtain the happy fruit of thy Passion.
Sorrowful and tearful art thou, O Virgin
Mary, standing by the cross of the
Lord Jesus, thy Son and Redeemer.
O Virgin Mother of God, He Whom the
whole earth containeth not, the Author
of life, made man, beareth this
anguish of the cross.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Holy Mary, Queen of Heaven and Mistress of the world,
stood by the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, sorrowing.
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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 had pass'd.
Oh how sad and sore distress'd, 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? Whelmi'd 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?
Bruis'd, derided, curs'd, defil'd, She beheld her tender Child,
All with bloody scourges rent.
For the sins of His own nation, Saw Him hang in desolation,
Till His Spirit forth He sent.
O thou Mother font 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 our 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 thee to give.
Virgin of all virgins best, 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 swoon'd,
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, Be Thy Mother my defense,
Be Thy Cross my victory.
While my body here decays, May my soul Thy goodness praise,
Safe in paradise with Thee.
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Remember, O Virgin Mother of God,
when thou standest in the presence of
the Lord, that thou speak good things
for us and turn His wrath from us.
We offer Thee prayers and sacrifices,
O Lord Jesus Christ, humbly
entreating that we, who commemorate
in our prayers the piercing of the most
dear soul of blessed Mary, Thy
Mother, may, through the multiplied
intercession of her and of her holy
companions under the cross, by the
merits of Thy death, receive our
portion with the blessed.
Happy the senses of the blessed
Virgin Mary, which without death
earned the palm of martyrdom
beneath the cross of our Lord.
May the sacrifices of which we have
partaken, O Lord Jesus Christ,
devoutly celebrating the piercing of
Thy virgin Mother's soul, obtain for us
with Thy clemency the effect of every
salutary benefit.
Amen.
