The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-11-21
The Stabat Mater.

great many people whose devotion
TO the Way of the Cross is helped by
the hearing Of the "Stabat Mater. +"
would like to know something Of its
origin.
The 'Stabat Mater was written by
''Jacopone' de Todi-Italian for SILLY
Jack" He was born of good family in
Todi, village in the province of UNI
bria. in the year 1880. He graduated
with high honors at the University of
Bologna, taking the degree of doctor of
law. He at once entered upon the prac-
tice of his profession, and although he
led a dissiDated life, soon became one
Of the most successful ami wealthy
young men in the province. 1t was then
he married Wanna di BerniGin0 III Gui-
done, a beautiful, highly accomplished
and most virtuous young lady. in whose
veins courSed the blue blood Of the
Ghibellines. He had not been married
one year when at a celebration of pub
lie games, on a certain fete day. which
both he and his wife attended, he in the
capacity of one Of the participants in
the game, suddenly the temporary
structure in which the audience was as
sembled fell in ruins, and most af it. in
Guiding the fair Wanna, was crushed be-
meath the debris. Almost -renzied with
grief, the young husband sought his
wife, whom he found bleeding and fatal
ly injured. 1t was then he discovered
that she wore beneath her splendid
gown a shirt of hair cloth. IT was for
YOU" she told him, and with these
words she died. Poor Jaconlo, for the
first time in his life realized IhaC he had
been treading "the primrose path Of
dalliance. not reckoning mis- own rede.'
Thereafter after having sold all lis
possessions. and given the proceeds to
the poor, he wandered about his native
town bareheaded. barefooted and in
rags. The boys gathered around and
Knocked him. He feiened madness in
order to punish himself for mis- love of
Vainglory and pride of intellect, and he
was called "JacopOne" the silly one.
But often when his deriders hemmed
him in. he turned upon them and
preached 10 them. admonishing them TO
gite up their sinful ways and lead let
ter lives. For ten years he led This kind
Of life, until he entered a Franciscan
convent as a Lesser Brother.
He had hoped to find peace. but hav-
ing become involved III difficulties With
the Pope, he was accommodated AMI
imprisoned. 1t is pleasing, However, for
Catholics to know that three years be-
fore his death he was absolyed from eX-
Communication, and died fortified by
the sacraments of the church, On
Christmas night, 1906. just as the priest
in the convent chapel was intoning the
Gloria in EXce1sis.
1t is not known just when he wrote
he "Stabat Mater" 1t is more than
likely that it was the work Of vaa~=
for such masterpieces are not usually
dashed off at one sitting. We nave
said masterpiece, for such il is. as
unique in its way as any of those paint
ed by Raphael or chiseled by Angelo.
The Catholic liturgy" as We are told
by Ozanam. has nothing more touch
ing than this sad lament whose mo-
Rotonous sTophies fan like tears so
sweet that there can be here recog-
nized q sorrow wholly divine and con-
Soled by the angels"
And Ludwig Tick says Of il:
The loneliness of sorrow in the depth
Of pain. the smiling in tears. the child
ike simplicity, which touches on the
brightest heaven. had 10 me never be-
fore risen 50 bright in the soul. ] had
TO turn away 70 hide my tears, especial
~ at the place 'Vidit SUM dulcem
nahum "
It has, moreover been illustrated by
some of the greatest painters, and set
TO music by some Of the worlds lead
ing composers. Guido REM Salvi Sas-
sOferrato and Carlo Dolce each devoted
canvas to the Mater Dolorosa. t.
tian added two, and Murillo and Brock
man each one. Lazerges devoted can
vas to the illustration of the poem
which he calls the 'Stabat Mater"