By the Cross her vigil keeping,
Stands the Queen of sorrows weeping,
While her son in torment hangs.

Now she feels - O heart afflicted
By the sword of old predicted!
More than all a mother's pangs.

Sad and heavy stands beside him
She who once had magnified him
One-begotten, only-born.

While she sees that rich atoning,
Long the moaning, deep the groaning,
Of her mother-heart forlorn.

Who, Christ's mother contemplating
In such bitter anguish waiting
Has no human tears to shed?

Who would lead Christ's mother, sharing
All the pain her son is bearing,
By those tears uncomforted?

Victim-priest of Jewry's nation,
There he hangs in expiration;
Scourge and nail have had their will.

Earth and heav'n his cause forsaking,
Now his noble heart is breaking,
Now the lab'ring breath is still.

Mother, fount whence love flows trues
Let me know the pain thou knewest,
Let me weep as thou hast wept.

Love divine within me burning
That diviner love returning,
May thy son this heart accept.

Mother, if my pray'r be granted
Those five wounds of his implanted
In my breast I fain would see.

Love exceeding hangs there bleeding.
My cause pleading, my love needs
Bid him share his Cross with me.

Till life fails, I will not fail him,
Still remember, still bewail him,
Born thy son, and crucified.

By the Cross my vigil keeping,
I would spend those hours of weeping,
Queen of sorrows, at thy side.

Virgin, boast of all creation,
Heed my tears, nor consolation
In thy bitterness repel

At thy side his liv'ry wearing,
His Cross bearing, his death sharing,
Of those wounds the beads I'll tell.

Wounds of Christ, in spirit bruise me,
Chalice of his blood, bemuse me,
Cross of Christ, be thou my stay!

Lest I burn in fires unending,
Sinless Maid, my cause befriending,
Shield me at the judgement day!

Jesus, when earth's shadows leave me,
Through thy mother's pray'rs receive me
With the palm of victòry.

When my body lies forsaken
Let my ransomed soul awaken
Safe, in Paradise, with thee.