Chants of the Vatican Graduale - MusicaSacra

438 The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
cross. Many a mother may well say of her child: My one and all! But
Mary alone has the right to speak these words in their fullest sense. Her
Child dies, dies in unspeakable agony, while she must stand by, unable
to offer any help! Her sorrow and pain but increase the desolation of her
divine Son. Mary, however, desires to stand there, to remain there, desires
to participate most intimately in the great sacrifice which her Son
is offering for the salvation of the world.
The second half of the first phrase is free composition at the beginning,
like et Salome in the second phrase. The first phrase closes on
on the dominant a, and uses this as a base from which to ascend higher.
The second phrase never extends beyond a. Similarly et Salome and
Maria introduce and stress the word-accent. The low pitch of the second
half of the latter phrase may suggest the picture of Mary Magdalen
kneeling at the foot of the cross.
The verse is not taken from the psalms, as is customary with other
Introits, but from the Gospel. The dying Saviour is speaking directly.
He appoints His mother the mother of St. John and of us all. What
feeling and sentiment is contained in this simple, typical melody!
GRADUAL
1. Dolorosa et lacrimabilis es, 1. Thou art sorrowful and worthy
Virgo Maria, 2. starts juxta cru- of tears, O virgin Mary, 2. standing
cem Domini Jesu Filii tui Redemp- near the cross of the Lord Jesus, thy
toris. $". 1. Virgo Dei Genitrix, son, our Redeemer. ^. 1. O virgin
quern totus non capit orbis, 2. hoc mother of God, he whom the whole
crucis fert supplicium, auctor vitae world doth not contain, 2. beareth
factus homo. this punishment of the cross, the
author of life, made man.
The melody was explained on July 2 and is admirably suited to this
text.
To be blunt of feeling, St. Paul remarks, is a mark of paganism.
This was not the case with the heart of Mary, St. Bernard says, neither
should it be with her servants. How we are to participate in her sorrow
who was "worthy of tears" (the first meaning of the Latin lacrimabilis),
is told us in the Sequence.
Oh, the bitter irony of it! He whom the heavens and earth can not
contain is nailed to the cross. In the Lamentations He complains: "He
hath built against Me round about, that I may not get out: he hath
made My fetters heavy;" and: "The author of life is fallen a victim to
death." And His mother weeps.