Link to the music: https://tinyurl.com/stabatmaterdolorosa

Considered by many to be one of the greatest Latin hymns ever written, the Stabat Mater Dolorosa tells the story of the sorrows of Mary during her Son’s passion, and puts the singer in the position of begging to accompany her in those sorrows. Written in the 13th century, likely either by Pope Innocent the III or by a Fransiscan Friar: Jacopo da Todi.

He’s an interesting fellow, who was a very wealthy and successful lawyer, got a reputation for being worldly and greedy, married a pious woman who dedicated her life to penance and prayer for her wicked husband. When she died, Jacopo discovered that she had been wearing a hair-shirt at the time of her death, and he realized it was for his sake. He gave  ...