Melodic Snippets Index

Stabat Mater Dolorosa (“Under the World-redeeming Rood”)
Translation: Historic Roman Catholic Translation • 1687AD
Tune: “Bayeux” • 887

This translation was allowed to be printed in London since it appeared during the reign of James II of England, a Catholic. He had converted from Anglicanism secretly in 1667, and refused to take a mandatory oath (1673 “Test Act”) denouncing the doctrine of Transubstantiation, instead choosing to relinquish the post of Lord High Admiral. A devout man, he once said: “If occasion were, I hope God would give me his grace to suffer death for the true Catholic religion as well as banishment.” His brother, who reigned as King of England until 1685, became a Catholic on his deathbed.

Stabat Mater Dolorosa (“At the Cross her station keeping”)
Also included in Latin: “Stábat Máter dolorósa”
Translation: Cento by Fr. Edward Caswall (d. 1878); Very Rev’d Dominic Aylward (d. 1872); Denis Florence MacCarthy (d. 1882); Athanasius Diedrich Wackerbarth (d. 1884); Aubrey Thomas de Vere (d. 1902); Fr. John Fitzpatrick (d. 1929); Hon. Daniel Joseph Donahoe (d. 1930); Msgr. Hugh T. Henry (d. 1946); and Msgr. Ronald A. Knox (d. 1957).
Second Tune: “Couture” • 887