Near the Cross Was Mary Weeping

Near the cross was Mary weeping,
There her mournful station keeping,
Gazing on her dying Son;
There in speechless anguish groaning,
Yearning, trembling, sighing, moaning,
Through her soul the sword had gone.

When no eye its pity gave us,
When there was no arm to save us,
He His love and power displayed:
By His stripes He wrought our healing,
By His death, our life revealing,
He for us the ransom paid.

Jesus, may Thy love constrain us,
That from sin we may refrain us,
In Thy griefs may deeply grieve;
Thee our best affections giving,
To Thy glory ever living,
May we in Thy glory live.

Author: Unknown

This is an English translation of the medieval Latin hymn 'Stabat Mater dolorosa'. The original author is traditionally attributed to Jacopone da Todi (c. 1230–1306), but the specific English rendering given here (often used with a tune by Dykes or in Catholic hymnals) is by an unknown 19th-century translator. No single verified author is commonly credited for these exact verses.