Schaut die Mutter voller Schmerzen

The old Latin Passion hymn (or sequence) “Stabat Mater dolorosa” by Jocopone is included in the Ev.-Luth. Gesangbuch #173 (from the Deutsches Gesangbuch of the Pennsylvania Ministerium) in a German translation evidently by Albert Knapp, which appears first in 1837 (A table comparing German translations is found in Lisco’s monograph). There are numerous translations of the hymn in English, most notably that of Caswall (quoted in Philip Schaff, Literature and Poetry, p. 199). But the translation which seems to reflect the German translation’s choices and idiosyncrasies most accurately is that of Rev. J. S. B. Monsell (here in Schaff). Most notably, the stanza addressed to Mary is here transformed into a an address of the Son, and the English so closely parallels the German here that one cannot help thinking that Monsell’s translation is from the German rather than the Latin, and specifically Knapp’s evangelical form, as quoted below. In fact, many other parallels exist between the two, so that at least, the same evangelical Spirit seems to have directed both, though Monsell keeps more references to Mary than Knapp does. Monsell’s translation appears in the Pilot, vol. 36, no. 34, August 23, 1873, quoting from The Episcopalian Churchman: “Stabat Mater Dolorosa. Newly translated by the Rev. John Monsell, LL. D.” However, a couple differences exist. First, stanza 2, omitted by Knapp, is included by Monsell. Second, Monsell directs stanzas 7–10 to the Father rather than Christ the Son as Knapp does. third, Monsell includes the final free-standing line of the Latin form, omitted by Knapp. To bring the whole into line with the German, I thus reorient the address of stanzas 7–10 (8–10 are so altered as to become my own work). I leave the second stanza in square brackets. I also make a few alterations to bring the text more in line with the German. As for the German, I include, from Schaff, the 2nd stanza by Fr[iedrich] von Meyer, who gives it an evangelical cast. The melody appointed is “Alles ist an Gottes Segen.”

 

SEE how stands the Mother weeping,
By the Cross her vigil keeping,
While her Jesus hangs thereon:
Through her heart, in sorrow moaning,
With Him grieving, for Him groaning,—
Through that heart the sword hath gone. 

[2 Oh, how sad and sore distressèd
Was she—the forever blessèd
Mother of the Undefiled!
She who wept and mourned and trembled,
When she saw such pains assembled
Round about the holy Child.]

3 Who that sees the Savior dying
’Neath His load of sorrow sighing,
Deathly pale upon the cross,
And beholds that weeping Mother
With Him weeping, could do other
Than to weep at such a loss?

4 For the sins of each offender.
Sinless soul, and body tender
Sees she ’neath the cruèl rod:
Sees her own sweet Son, her only
Dying, desolate, and lonely,
Yields His Spirit up to God.

5 Jesu! Fount of Love! Thee loving,
And my soul Thy sorrow moving,
Make me watch and weep with Thee:
As my God and Christ Thee knowing,
Let my heart for Thee be glowing
Who thus gav’st Thy life for me.

6 Holy Savior! let affliction
For Thy blessed crucifixion
Pierce my heart: and grant this pray’r
That while Thou for me wast wounded,
With indignities surrounded,
I Thy cup of grief may share.

7 Make me truly weep, and never
From Thee, Crucified, me sever,
Long as I on earth shall live:
By Thy Cross, O Jesus, weeping,
Vigil with Thy Mother keeping,
To my pray’r this answer give.

8 Let me, of Thy pains partaking,
All those passions be forsaking
Which gave Thee such wounds and grief:
Thus Thy bitter suff’ring sharing,
I the Lamb’s Cross will be bearing
Which for sin brought my relief.

9 When I weep, by trials stricken,
Let Thy beams my spirit quicken,
From Thy gracious face, I pray:
With Thy torments well attended,
Let me be from fears defended
At the coming Judgment Day.

10 ’Gainst all foes who would assail me,
Let Thy Cross, O Lord, avail me,
Let Thy grace enlighten me;
When my mortal body, dying,
In the quiet grave is lying,
Take my soul to bliss with Thee.

Translation sts. 1–7, J. Monsell, 1873, alt.; sts. 8–10 © 2022 Matthew Carver (based on J. Monsell).

GERMAN

Schaut die Mutter voller Schmerzen,
wie sie mit zerrißnem Herzen
bei dem Kreuz des Sohnes steht!
Schauet ihre Trübsalshitze,
wie des Schwertes blutge Spitze
tief durch ihre Seele geht!

[2 Welches tiefen Jammers Beute
wurde die Gebenedeite
Mutter dieses Einzigen!
Welch ein Trauern, welch ein Zagen,
Welch ein Ringen, welch ein Nagen
Bei der Schmach des Göttlichen!]

3 Wessen Auge kann der Zähren
bei dem Jammer sich erwehren,
der des Höchsten Sohn umfängt?
Wie er mit gelaßnem Muthe,
todesmatt, in seinem Blute
an dem Holz des Fluches hängt!

4 Für die Sünden seiner Brüder
leidet er, daß seine Glieder
unnennbare Qual zerreißt.
Für uns ruft er im Erblassen:
Gott, mein Gott, ich bin verlassen!
Für uns giebt er auf den Geist.

5 Laß, o Jesu, Quell der Liebe,
deines Herzens heilge Triebe
strömen in mein Herz herab!
Laß mich dich meine Alles nennen,
ganz für dich in Liebe brennen,
der für mich sein Leben gab.

6 Drück, mein König deine Wunden,
die du auch für mich empfunden,
tief in meine Seel hinein.
Laß in Reue mich zerfließen,
mit dir leiden, mit dir büßen,
mit dir tragen jede Pein.

7 Laß mich herzlich mit dir weinen,
mich durchs kreuz mit dir vereinen;
aller Weltsinn sei verflucht!
Unterm Kreuze will ich stehen
und dich zittern, bluten sehen,
wenn die Sünde mich versucht.

8 Gieb mir Theil an deinem Leiden,
laß von aller Lust mich scheiden,
die dir solche Wunden schlug.
Ich will auch mir Wunden schlagen,
will das Kreuz des Lammes tragen,
welches meine Sünden trug.

9 Laß, wenn meine Thränen fließen,
mich den Gnadenglanz genießen
deines milden Angesichts.
Decke mich durch deine Plagen
vor den Ängsten und den Klagen
einst am Tag des Gerichts.

10 Gegen aller Feinde Stürmen
laß mich, Herr, dein Kreuz beschirmen;
deine Gnade leuchte mir.
Deckt des Grabes finstre Höhle
meinen Leib, so nimm die Seele
hin ins Paradies zu dir.