Near the cross her vigil keeping

Representative Text

1. Near the cross, her vigil keeping,
Stood the mother, worn with weeping,
Where He hung, the dying Lord;
Through her soul, in anguish groaning,
Bowed in sorrow, sighing, moaning,
Passed the sharp and piercing sword.

2. O the weight of her affliction!
Hers, who won God’s benediction,
Hers, who bore God’s Holy One:
O that speechless, ceaseless yearning!
O those dim eyes never turning
From her wondrous, suffering Son!

3. Who upon that mother gazing,
In her trouble so amazing,
Born of woman, would not weep?
Who of Christ’s dear mother thinking,
While her Son that cup is drinking,
Would not share her sorrow deep?

4. For His people’s sin chastisèd
She beheld her Son despisèd,
Bound and bleeding ’neath the rod;
Saw the Lord’s Anointed taken,
Dying desolate, forsaken,
Heard Him yield His soul to God.

5. Near Thy cross, O Christ, abiding,
Grief and love my heart dividing,
I with her would take my place;
By Thy guardian cross uphold me,
In Thy dying, Christ, enfold me
With the deathless arms of grace.

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #4501

Author: Jacopone da Todi

Jacobus de Benedictis, commonly known as Jacopone, was born at Todi in Umbria, early in the 13th century, his proper name being Jacopone di Benedetti. He was descended from a noble family, and for some time led a secular life. Some remarkable circumstances which attended the violent death of his wife, led him to withdraw himself from the world, and to enter the Order of St. Francis, in which he remained as a lay brother till his death, at an advanced age, in 1306. His zeal led him to attack the religious abuses of the day. This brought him into conflict with Pope Boniface VIII., the result being imprisonment for long periods. His poetical pieces were written, some in Italian, and some in Latin, the most famous of the latter being "Cur mundu… Go to person page >

Author: Louis F. Benson

Benson, Louis FitzGerald, D.D., was born at Philadelphia, Penn., July 22, 1855, and educated at the University of Penn. He was admitted to the Bar in 1877, and practised until 1884. After a course of theological studies he was ordained by the Presbytery of Philadelphia North, in 1888. His pastorate of the Church of the Redeemer, Germantown, Phila., extended from his ordination in 1888 to 1894, when he resigned and devoted himself to literary and Church work at Philadelphia. He edited the series of Hymnals authorised for use by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., as follows:— (1) The Hymnal, Phila., 1895; (2) The Chapel Hymnal, 1898; and (3) The School Hymnal, 1899. Dr. Benson's hymnological writings are somewh… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Near the cross her vigil keeping
Latin Title: Stabat mater dolorosa
Author: Jacopone da Todi
Author: Louis F. Benson
Meter: 8.8.7 D
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

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The Cyber Hymnal #4501
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Instances

Instances (1 - 10 of 10)

Hymnbook for Christian Worship #164

The Book of Praise #197

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #4501

The Hymnal #150

Page Scan

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The Hymnary for use in Baptist churches #95

The Hymnary of the United Church of Canada #95

The Methodist Hymnal, Official Hymnal of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Methodist Episcopal Church South, Methodist Protestant Church #138

The Methodist Hymnal #138

Page Scan

The Sanctuary Hymnal, published by Order of the General Conference of the United Brethren in Christ #195

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