The post Stabat Mater first appeared on AirMaria.com.

O holy Mother, sweet and fair to see,
for us beseech the King, your dearest Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ, to death for us delivered:
that in his pitying clemency, and by virtue of his most holy incarnation
and bitter death, he may pardon our sins.
 
Holy Virgin Mary, among all the women of the world,
there is none like you. You are the daughter and handmaid of the most high King,
Father of heaven. You are the mother of our most holy Lord Jesus Christ.
You are the bride of the Holy Spirit. Pray for us, with St. Michael the archangel,
and all the powers of heaven and all the saints, to your most holy and beloved Son,
our Lord and Master, Amen.

+St. Francis of Assisi

1. At the cross her station keeping,
stood the mournful mother weeping,
close to Jesus to the last

2. Through her heart, his sorrow sharing,
all his bitter anguish bearing,
now at length the sword had passed.

3. Oh how sad and sore distressed
was that mother highly blessed,
of the sole-begotten One!

4. Christ above in torment hangs;
she beneath beholds the pangs
of her dying glorious Son.

5. Is there one who would not weep,
whelmed in miseries so deep
Christ’s dear Mother to behold?

6. Can the human heart refrain
from partaking in her pain,
in that Mother’s pain untold?

7. For the sins of His own nation
saw Him hang in desolation,
all with bloody scourges rent.

8. Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
she beheld her tender child,
till His Spirit forth he sent.

9. O, thou Mother, fount of love,
touch my spirit from above,
make my heart with thine accord.

10. Make me feel as thou has felt;
make my soul to glow and melt
with the love of Christ our Lord.

11. Holy Mother, pierce me through;
in my heart each wound renew
of my Saviour crucified.

12. Let met share with thee his pain,
who for all my sins was slain,
who for me in torments died.

13. Let me mingle tears with thee,
mourning Him Who mourned for me,
all the days that I may live.

14. By the cross with thee to stay,
there with thee to weep and pray,
this I ask of thee to give.

15. Virgin, of all virgins blest,
O refuse not my request:
let me in thy weeping share

16. Let me, to my latest breath,
in my body bear the death
of that dying Son of thine.

17. Wounded with his every wound,
steep my soul till it hath swooned
in His very blood away.

18. Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
lest in flames I burn and die,
in that awful judgment day.

19. Christ, when thou shalt call me hence,
be Thy mother my defense,
be Thy cross my victory.

20. While my body here decays,
may my soul Thy goodness praise,
safe in Paradise with Thee. Amen.

This is the beautiul yet sad chant that is often heard during the Stations of the Cross in Lent. It would be hard to replace such a beautiful hymn with anything else! This chant has been in use for many centuries, so who are we to think we’ve outgrown it? Indeed, we need to medidate on Our Lady’s Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart more now that ever before, because she is our only hope.

Our Lady shared in the entire Passion, suffering everything with Jesus — and now she shares the same proportion of the glory of the risen Christ. Pray to Our Lady, put yourself completely in her hands. She alone can keep you from going astray in so many ways. She who is the mother of the Truth will keep you on the sure path, avoiding every error and deception. She will teach you humility, faith, love, and all the virtues she practiced so perfectly. She will inevitably lead you closer to Christ; for where the Blessed Mother is, there is Christ. When was that ever not true? Even on Calvary, she stood (not lay fainting) by the cross, the sword of sorrow piercing her most beautiful heart.

The post Our Lady of Sorrows first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Homily #130322 ( 05min) Play – On this feast of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady, Fr. Ignatius exhorts us to share in Jesus’ sorrows by carefully paying attention to the sorrows of Our Lady and offering ours with Hers.

Ave Maria!
Mass: Commemoration of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Ferial – Form: EF, Stabant Iuxta
Readings: 
1st: jth 13:22,23-25
Gsp: joh 19:25-27

Audio (MP3)

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The post Mar 22 – Homily – Fr Ignatius: Unite Your Sorrows With Mary first appeared on AirMaria.com.

“The Life of “Bl.” Jacopone da Todi, Confessor, First Order (1230-1306) for the Franciscan Saint of the Day for Dec 25. Jacopone was a proud lawyer who had a conversion after his pious wife died and joined the Franciscans. He wrote many prayers, poems, and songs. He got involved with the radical spirituals and was excommunicated until absolved by the Bonific’s successor. After this, he was even more genuinely pious and wrote the Stabat Mater.

Reflection is on the Nativity of Christ, turn to Him, and turn away from the world
A savior is born today, let us give thanks
Make sacrifices

For more on “Bl.” Jacopone da Todi
– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacopone_da_Todi
– https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08263a.htm

Also on Youtube:https://youtu.be/x1fwkpZklSI

Read by Fr. Ignatius Manfredonia, FI from Marion Habig’s ‘The Franciscan Book of Saints’ Revised Edition, Franciscan Herald Press, ISBN: 978-0819907516

Playlist of Franciscan Saints: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TxcAETrU_k&list=PLejh_e0-LN4wErRczZGry4TXytCZFiLCm”

Ave Maria!

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The post Dec 25 – “Bl.” Jacopone da Todi – Franciscan Saint of the Day first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Nov 03, 2023, on how Franciscan Spirituality emphasizes Our Lady’s role in God’s plan, today focusing on her active role in Coredemption with Christ.

The concept of Mary’s co-redemption, draws on several Biblical texts. The narrative acknowledges Jesus’ mission of glorifying the Father through suffering, reminiscent of Isaiah 53 – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/53 – describing the suffering servant. Mary’s title, “Mother of Sorrows” (Mater Dolorosa), emerges during the Via Crucis, aligning her with the redemptive mission of Jesus. Her assent to angel Gabriel signifies her awareness and willingness to partake in this divine plan. St. Bernadine of Siena highlights Mary’s unique role, embodying the crucified one, and bringing salvation to the elect. Mary’s offering of Jesus in the temple preludes the sacrificial journey, as cited in Philippians 4:18 – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/philippians/4?18 – God’s accepted offering. The prophecy of Simeon in Luke 2:35 – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/2?35 foreshadows Mary’s maternal martyrdom. Despite the apostles’ initial lack of understanding, Mary grasps the inevitable suffering entailed in the mission.

At Calvary, Mary stands with Jesus, offering both Him and herself to God, embodying an unparalleled act of compassion, satisfying divine justice, and channeling divine mercy to humanity. Mary’s continuous offering from Annunciation to crucifixion epitomizes a ceaseless journey of love and sacrifice. On Calvary, titles like ‘Woman’ from
John 19:26 – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/19?26, and references to
Revelation 12:1 – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/revelation/12?1,
Genesis 3:15 – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/revelation/12?1,
Genesis 2:18 – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/2?18, and
Genesis 3:20 – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/3?20 underline her eternal and significant role.

The term “co-redemptrix,” traced back to Franciscan Venerable Bernadine de Bustis, signifies Mary’s unique, albeit secondary, role in redemption. The reflection concludes with an homage to Mary’s ceaseless offering, imploring grace to aid her ongoing mission of spiritual nurturing and salvation, encapsulated in the hymn Stabat Mater Dolorosa by 13th-century Franciscan Jacopone da Todi, recited during the Via Crucis, illustrating Mary’s enduring adherence to her redemptive role alongside Jesus.

00:00 – Introduction
00:15 – Our Lady’s Co-Redemption
00:47 – The Mother of Sorrows
01:12 – Mary’s Fiat and Consent to Redemption
02:02 – The Offering of Jesus in the Temple
02:59 – Mary Immediately Understood Jesus’ Mission
03:14 – Mary at the Foot of the Cross
04:18 – The Mysterious Title “Woman”
05:07 – Mary as Co-Redemptrix
05:56 – Origins of the Term Co-Redemptrix
07:15 – The Stabat Mater Hymn

This is a continuation of his series of homilies on Franciscan Spirituality – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNN151zTIO4&list=PLejh_e0-LN4xgMllKrzSasL2Hljd5BHom
and the subsection “Mary’s Role”

The material for this series comes primarily from Ciccarelli, Marciano M., “I capisaldi della spiritualità francescana” in Italian, which translates as “The Cornerstones of Franciscan Spirituality.” No English translations of this book exist at the time of this recording.

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Martin de Porres – Opt Mem – http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=306
Readings: Friday 30th Week of Ordinary Time – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/110323.cfm
1st: rom 9:1-5
Resp: psa 147:12-15, 19-20
Gsp: luk 14:1-6

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1188&r=1539

Also on Facebook: https://fb.watch/o4MLoE54Ru/
and YouTube: https://youtu.be/eWH1U1VcZO8

The post FS #52 : Mary’s Role, Part 6- Nov 03 – Homily – Fr Terrance first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Fr Elias gives the homily at Griswold, CT, on Mar 27, 2026, explaining the Church’s liturgical celebration of Our Lady as Co-Redemptrix, her unique cooperation in Christ’s redemption at the foot of the cross, and her role as Mediatrix of graces, drawing from history, hymns like Stabat Mater, and apparitions such as Akita.

Fr. Elias delivers a homily on the Friday before Palm Sunday, traditionally devoted to Our Lady’s sorrows and cooperation in redemption, once called Our Lady Co-Redemptrix. He notes pre-Vatican II feasts on September 15 and this day, with opening prayers emphasizing her participation beyond mere contemplation. Supporting the Fifth Marian Dogma (Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix, Advocate), he cites Pius XII on her right to distribute redemptive graces from Calvary, linked to John 19:26-27 (“Woman, behold your son”). The term “Co-Redemptrix” originated in the 1700s as the feminine “Redemptrix” with “co-” indicating subordination, like a co-pilot. He highlights the 13th-century Stabat Mater by Giacopone da Todi, contemporary of Bl. John Duns Scotus, inviting union with Mary’s sorrows. In Akita, Our Lady appeared as Co-Redemptrix, her statue weeping 101 tears (Eve’s 1 disobedience, eternity’s 0, Mary’s 1 obedience; Genesis 3:15). Post-Vatican II Lenten Masses include “Our Lady at the Foot of the Cross.” The Miraculous Medal depicts her Immaculate Conception as redemption’s first fruit and graces’ mediation. He calls for her intercession to accompany Christ in Holy Week.

USCCB: Genesis 3:15 – Protoevangelium New Eve victory – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/3?15
Catechism 964 – Mary’s foot-cross consent – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/964.htm
Catechism 491 – Immaculate Conception grace – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/491.htm
USCCB: John 19:26 – Behold your mother – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/19?26
New Advent: Our Lady of Sorrows –  https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14151b.htm

00:00 – Introduction
00:49 – Liturgical History of Our Lady’s Sorrows
02:34 – The Fifth Marian Dogma and Mediatrix
04:04 – Understanding the Title Co-Redemptrix
06:04 – Stabat Mater and Franciscan Tradition
07:05 – The Apparitions at Akita and the 101 Tears
09:34 – Mary’s Moral Offering at Calvary
11:21 – Preparing for Holy Week with Our Lady

Ave Maria!
Mass: Friday 5th Week of Lent – Wkdy
Readings:  – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032726.cfm
1st: Jeremiah 20:10-13
Resp: Psalms 18:2-3, 3-4, 5-6, 7
Gsp: John 10:31-42

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1769

Also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWHMAM2KjAM

The post Mary’s Cooperation in Christ’s Redemption Work – Mar 27 – Homily – Fr Elias first appeared on AirMaria.com.