Friday, March 21, 2008

Today's cd/Stabat Mater

Pergolesi, Stabat Mater/Vivaldi, Motet, and Stabat Mater/1994

I promise not to repeat too many postings as time goes on, but my Good Friday music is one which I probably will. It is so moving, so emotional, and so real. Whether we are Christians or not, whether we believe every word, still, still this music can touch us. It is said that Christ shared our humanity, our joys and sorrows. Yes, except he was not a parent. It is Mary's suffering this music is about. If you are a parent, you know that watching your child go through trouble is much, much worse than you going through it yourself. Her pain is literally your pain. His sorrow is your sorrow. And even when it ends for them, it never quite goes away for you, the parent. This is something I never knew until I became a mother. All at once, very suddenly, I was part of a world I never knew existed. I thought I knew what love was, I thought I knew what caring was, I thought I knew what sacrifice was. I didn't. Well, I did on some level, but it is not the same. There is a lack of self-consciousness when you are a parent. You truly think of the child before yourself. It is amazing. It is a miracle. So, when Jesus is on that cross, yes he is suffering. But, his suffering is so different from his mother's. Those who have lost a child will know this. Those who have not lost a child still realize it is the worst pain there is. And Mary had to go through it. That's what this music is all about. I cry several times a day on Good Friday as I hear the music floating throughout the house. It is very, very beautiful but very sad, too. And I think, we as Christians, need to go through it on this day. Yes, for Him, but I think equally, for Mary, the mother.

Some of the words:

Her grieving heart
So full of tears and anguish,
Pierced as though with a sword.

Oh, how sad and unfortunate
Was that blessed mother
Of an only son.

8 comments:

  1. How true your reflexions on parenthood are.
    I wish you a very happy Easter weekend.

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  2. Beautiful thoughts. Thanks. Have a blessed Easter.

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  3. Thanks, K and Joyce. Boy, I really put my heart out there, didn't I? :<) K, do I recall that you signed some comments, "Kathleen?" I feel badly writing "K" but I wasn't sure enough.

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  4. I couldn't agree more. Thank you for your powerful and meaningful words. On Sunday ... Happy Easter, Nan!

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  5. Just needed to leave another note saying that I am catching up on all your back posts and they are wonderful reading! Peace!

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  6. I am the mother of an only son myself, though of course not any where near Mary's league. I've joked this week that "pilloss come with warning tags, why don't children?" It's comforting to me to know that I'm not alone in my suffering/worrying about my boy; how true it is that it would be easier to go through a difficult time ourselves than watch our children. Who knew the love of a parent was so deep? It makes His sacrifice, which is also her sacrifice, all the more poignant.

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  7. Beautiful, beautiful post. You have such a way with words. Happy Easter, Nan.

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