Archives for March 2014

This song by Charles Gounod is in a major key, and so it feels strange to me singing sad words to “happy” sounding music, but I guess it reminds me that the hope of the Resurrection was still in Mary’s heart. The words of this song are so descriptive and full of emotion.

If you would like to print the sheet music, it can be found on Project Gutenburg, from the St. Gregory Hymnal.

What a sea of tears and sorrows, Did the soul of Mary toss
To and fro upon its billows While she wept her bitter loss;
In her arms her Jesus holding; Torn so newly from the Cross.

Oh, that mournful Virgin Mother, See her tears how fast they flow
Down upon His mangles Body Wounded Side and thorny Brow;
While His Hands and Feet she kisses, Picture of immortal woe.

Gentle Mother, we beseech thee, By thy tears and troubles sore;
By the death of thy dear Offspring, By the bloody wounds He bore:
Touch our hearts with that true sorrow, Which afflicted thee of yore.

The words are by Angela Cave, and the music is by Mainz, circa 1628. I have always loved this melody for its melancholic mood that fits the words so beautifully. Imagining Mary erect throughout the Crucifixion is what strikes me most. She loved her Son a lot to be able to stand there, supporting Him. She had every right to wail with grief, but instead of falling to pieces in front of Him, she accepted the Cross and suffered silently with Her Son.

Sheet music here.

Our Lady, who is full of grace,
Stood in anguish at her place;
Stood erect beneath the Cross,
Close to Him Who died for us.

What must we, the guilty feel
As beside the Cross we kneel?
Ours the voices of the foe,
Ours the hand that struck the blow.

Help us, Mary full of grace,
To look upon His suff’ring face;
Then may we closer to thee move,
And learn to look upon His love.