Good Friday (For Catholics)

People should not be afraid of their faith.Nor should they be ashamed of it.They should declare it proudly, proud of belonging to adherents of a unique discpline, proud to be defenders of rites and rituals of that religion.Proud to be mouthpieces of that religion's messengers, proud to be part of a long lineage of saints and holy men and women born and forged out of that religion.

Proud to be with God's side.

There are too many things to fight in the world today that we cannot afford to fight amongst ourselves.That being said, I am guilty of it as well.I'm proud to be Catholic, but do I always show it?

Guilty of trying to be agreeable with others, rather than being right.

Guilty of concealment as opposed to proclamation.

Guilty of sin rather than exemplary living.

Just wanted to share this with Catholics reading- the Stabat Mater usually sung with Mary's Way of the Cross.I found it milder but more emotionally moving than the traditional way of the cross.

I.
Stabat Mater dolorosa
juxta crucem lacrymosa
dum pendebat Filius.

The mother was standing full of sorrow, weeping near the cross, while on it her son was hanging.

II.
Cuius aninam gementem,
contristatam ac dolentem
pertransivit gladius.

A sword pierced her sighing soul, saddened and suffering.

III.
O quam tristis et afflicta
fuit illa benedicta
Mater Unigeniti!

Oh how sad and afflicted was that blessed one, the Mother of the Only Begotten!

IV.
Quae moerebat et dolebat
Pia Mater, dum videbat
Nati poenas inclyti.

The virtuous mother was lamenting and grieving, while she saw the punishments of her glorious Son.

V.
Quis est homo qui non fleret
Matrem Christi si videret
in tanto supplicio?

Who is there who would not weep to see the Mother of Christ in such torture?

Quis non posset contristari,
Matrem Christi contemplari
dolentem cum Filio?

Who cannot be saddened, to contemplate the Mother of Christ grieving with her Son?

Pro peccatis suae gentis
vidit Jesum in tormentis
et flagellis subditum.

For the sins of his people, she saw Jesus placed in torments and scourges.

VI.
Vidit suum dulcem Natum
morientem desolatum
dum emisit spiritum.

She saw her sweet Son dying desolate while he sent forth his spirit.

VII.
Eia Mater, fons amoris,
me sentire vim doloris,
fac, ut tecum lugeam.

Ah Mother, fountain of love, make me feel the force of your sorrow, so that I may mourn with you.

VIII.
Fac ut ardeat cor meum
in amando Christum Deum,
ut sibi complaceam.

Make my heart be on fire in loving Christ, my God, so that I may please him also.

IX.
Sancta Mater, istud agas,
crucifixi figi plagas
cordi meo valide.

Holy Mother, do that, fix strongly on my heart the wounds of the Crucified One.

Tui Nati vulnerati,
tam dignati pro me pati,
poenas mecum divide.

Share with me the punishments of your wounded Son who so deigned to suffer for me.

Fac me tecum vere flere,
crucifixo condolere,
donec ego vixero.

Make me truly weep with you, to suffer with the Crucified One, as long as I shall live.

Juxta crucem tecum stare,
te libenter sociare
in planctu desidero.

I wish to stand near the cross with you, to share willingly in the lamentation.

Virgo virginum praeclara,
mihi iam non sis amara:
fac me tecum plangere.

Distinguished virgin of virgins, be not bitter to me now: let me grieve with you.

X.
Fac ut portem Christi mortem,
passionis fac consortem
et plagas recollere.

Make me bear the death of Christ, make me be a sharer of his passion and recollect his blows.

Fac me plagis vulnerari,
cruce hac inebriari
ob amorem Filii.

Make me wounded with the blows, to be inebriated by this cross because of love of the Son.

XI.
Inflammatus et accensus,
per te, Virgo, sim defensus
in die iudicii.

Kindled and inflamed for you, Virgin, may I be defended on the day of judgment.

Christe, cum sit hunc exire,
da per Matrem me venire
ad palmam victoriae.

Christ, when I must go hence, let me come for the sake of Your Mother to the palm of victory.

XII.
Quando corpus morietur,
fac ut animae donetur,
paradisi gloria.
Amen!

When my body dies, grant that the glory of paradise be given to my soul. Amen!

 

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