What a Sea of Tears and Sorrows

Submitted by Rick.Wheeler on Tue, 2011/03/22 - 5:13pm
PDF version
ID: 
226
Can be Found in
Book: 
The St. Gregory Hymnal (1941)
Page: 
228
Composition Date: 
1866
Composer: 
Gounod, Charles-François (1818-1893)
Arrangers / Editors: 
Montani, Nichola A. (1880-1948)
Proper Liturgical Usage: 
Additional Music at Mass
Processional
Recessional
Proper Liturgical Time: 
Quadragesima (Lent)
Proper Liturgical Day: 
Any
Votive: 
F
Performance Time: 
2 min
Composition Type: 
Hymn
Texture: 
Homophonic
Voices: 
SATB
Language: 
Modern English
Difficulty: 
Easy
Musical Style: 
Modern Hymnody

Parts

Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Bass
Lyrics: 

1. What a sea of tears and sorrows Did the soul of Mary toss To and fro upon its billows While she wept her bitter loss; In her arms her Jesus holding, Torn so newly from the Cross.

2. Oh, that mournful Virgin Mother, See her tears how fast they flow Down upon His mangled Body Wounded Side and thorny Brow; While His Hands and Feet she kisses, Picture of immortal woe.

3. Oft, and oft His Arms and Bosom, Fondly straining to her own; Oft, her pallid lips imprinting On each Wound of her dear Son: Till at last in swoons of anguish, Sense and consciousness are gone.

4. Gentle Mother, we beseech thee, By thy tears and troubles sore; By the death of thy dear Offspring, By the bloody Wounds He bore; Touch our hearts with that true sorrow Which affected thee of yore.