St Werburgh's Roman Catholic Parish, Chester

Stations of the Cross. IV: Jesus meets his Mother

The Gospels do not tell of an encounter between Jesus and Mary, his Mother, on the route to Calvary, although they do describe her presence at the place of execution. However, such a meeting has long been imagined in the traditional commemoration of the Way of the Cross. And what a thing to imagine! How must Mary have felt, what could any mother feel, watching her own child abused and vilified, sentenced to an excruciating and degrading death? Her own son, Jesus, whose ministry and mission had been dedicated to compassion, to love, to respect for all in the sight of God; now unjustly sentenced, mocked by the masses, deserted by his own friends. And how does Jesus react, coming face to face in such circumstances with his mother, adding the weight of her suffering and dismay to the other burdens he carries?

The 13th century hymn Stabat Mater dolorosa reflects on Mary's sufferings at the foot of the Cross, and is often recited or sung in public observances of the Stations of the Cross, where a single verse is sung or recited before each Station, in Latin or in the vernacular translation.

Stabat Mater dolorosa
iuxta Crucem lacrimosa,
dum pendebat Filius.		 At the Cross her station keeping,
stood the mournful Mother weeping,
close to Jesus to the last.
Cuius animam gementem,
contristatam et dolentem
pertransivit gladius.		 Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,
all His bitter anguish bearing,
now at length the sword has passed.
O quam tristis et afflicta
fuit illa benedicta,
mater Unigeniti!		 O how sad and sore distressed
was that Mother, highly blest,
of the sole-begotten One.
Quae maerebat et dolebat,
pia Mater, dum videbat
nati poenas inclyti.		 Christ above in torment hangs,
she beneath beholds the pangs
of her dying glorious Son.
Quis est homo qui non fleret,
matrem Christi si videret
in tanto supplicio?		 Is there one who would not weep,
whelmed in miseries so deep,
Christ's dear Mother to behold?
Quis non posset contristari
Christi Matrem contemplari
dolentem cum Filio?		 Can the human heart refrain
from partaking in her pain,
in that Mother's pain untold?
Pro peccatis suae gentis
vidit Iesum in tormentis,
et flagellis subditum.		 Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
she beheld her tender Child
All with scourges rent:
Vidit suum dulcem Natum
moriendo desolatum,
dum emisit spiritum.		 For the sins of His own nation,
saw Him hang in desolation,
Till His spirit forth He sent.
Eia, Mater, fons amoris
me sentire vim doloris
fac, ut tecum lugeam.		 O thou Mother! fount of love!
Touch my spirit from above,
make my heart with thine accord:
Fac, ut ardeat cor meum
in amando Christum Deum
ut sibi complaceam.		 Make me feel as thou hast felt;
make my soul to glow and melt
with the love of Christ my Lord.
Sancta Mater, istud agas,
crucifixi fige plagas
cordi meo valide.		 Holy Mother! pierce me through,
in my heart each wound renew
of my Savior crucified:
Tui Nati vulnerati,
tam dignati pro me pati,
poenas mecum divide.		 Let me share with thee His pain,
who for all my sins was slain,
who for me in torments died.
Fac me tecum pie flere,
crucifixo condolere,
donec ego vixero.		 Let me mingle tears with thee,
mourning Him who mourned for me,
all the days that I may live:
Iuxta Crucem tecum stare,
et me tibi sociare
in planctu desidero.		 By the Cross with thee to stay,
there with thee to weep and pray,
is all I ask of thee to give.
Virgo virginum praeclara,
mihi iam non sis amara,
fac me tecum plangere.		 Virgin of all virgins blest!,
Listen to my fond request:
let me share thy grief divine;
Fac, ut portem Christi mortem,
passionis fac consortem,
et plagas recolere.		 Let me, to my latest breath,
in my body bear the death
of that dying Son of thine.
Fac me plagis vulnerari,
fac me Cruce inebriari,
et cruore Filii.		 Wounded with His every wound,
steep my soul till it hath swooned,
in His very Blood away;
Flammis ne urar succensus,
per te, Virgo, sim defensus
in die iudicii.		 Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
lest in flames I burn and die,
in His awful Judgment Day.
Christe, cum sit hinc exire,
da per Matrem me venire
ad palmam victoriae.		 Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence,
by Thy Mother my defense,
by Thy Cross my victory;
Quando corpus morietur,
fac, ut animae donetur
paradisi gloria. Amen.
 While my body here decays,
may my soul Thy goodness praise,
safe in paradise with Thee. Amen.

From the Liturgia Horarum. Translation by Fr Edward Caswall (1814-1878)

Society usually portrays motherhood in the context of the newborn, or the young child. But a mother watches over her children as they grow to full maturity, and must share in their sorrows, suffering, failure and shortcomings as human beings, just as much as she did in the joy of the young child, looking forward with hope and trust to an unknown future.

Thanks be to God for mothers, who are there to look after us in our times of greatest need.

Dear Lord, may I never see my children unjustly persecuted or unfairly taken from me by the evil that men do to them.

Stations of the Cross
Station III
Station V