Presented in its original Latin text, The Emmanuel Choir of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Southern Pines, NC, offered the oratorio "Les Sept Paroles du Christ" (The Seven Last Words of Christ) by Théodore Dubois as part of the Bach's Lunch community arts series on March 24, 2023.

Mollie Wilson, Guest Conductor
Dr. Homer A. Ferguson III, Organist
Mary Lou Vaughan, Soprano
Graham Leonard, Tenor
Jack Neely, Tenor
Benny Edwards, Baritone
Robert Mobsby, Baritone

Introduction: O vos omnes
Mary Lou Vaughan, soprano

O vos omnes qui transitis per viam,
O all you who travel along the road,

attendite,
pay attention,

et videte si est dolor sicut dolor meus.
and see whether there is any sorrow like my sorrow.

Posuit me Dominus desolatam,
The Lord has made me desolate,

tota die moerore confectam;
the whole day I am made to grieve;

ne vocetis me Noemi,
So do not call me Naomi,

sed vocate me Mara.
but call me Mara.
(Naomi = pleasant; Mara = bitter)

First Word: Pater, dimitte illis
Benny Edwards, baritone
Jack Neely, tenor

Pater, dimitte illis,
Father, forgive them,

non enim sciunt, quid faciunt.
for they do not know what they’re doing.

Et dicebant omnes:
And they shouted:

Reus est mortis;
“The accused deserves death!”
(Literally, “the defendant is of death.”)

Tolle, tolle, crucifige eum.
Take him, take him, crucify him!

Sanguis ejus, super nos
His blood be on us

et super filios nostros!
and on our children!

Crucifixerunt Jesum et latrones,
They crucified Jesus and the thieves,

unum a dextris et alterum a sinistris.
one on the right and the other on the left.

Second Word: Hodie mecum eris in Paradiso
Graham Leonard, tenor
Robert Mobsby, baritone

Hodie mecum eris in paradiso, amen,
Today you will be with me in Paradise,

dico tibi.
I say to you.

Domine, memento mei cum veneris
Lord, remember me when you come

in regnum tuum.
into your kingdom.

Third Word: Mulier, ecce filius tuus
Benny Edwards, baritone
Mary Lou Vaughan, soprano
Jack Neely, tenor

Mulier, ecce filius tuus.
“Woman, behold your son.”

Stabat mater dolorosa
There stood the sorrowful mother,

Juxta crucem lacrymosa,
Tearful beside the cross

Dum pendebat Filius.
While her Son was hanging.

Quis est homo qui non fleret,
Who is the man who would not cry

Christi Matrem si videret
If he saw the Mother of Christ

In tanto supplico?
In such suffering?

Fourth Word: Deus meus, ut quid dereliquisti me?
Robert Mobsby, baritone

Deus meus, ut quid dereliquisti me?
My God, why have you abandoned me?

Omnes amici mei dereliquerunt me,
All my friends have abandoned me,

prevaluerunt insidiantes mihi;
the assailants have prevailed over me,

tradidit me quem diligebam.
the one whom I held dear handed me over.

Vinea mea electa, ego te plantavi;
My chosen vine, I planted you:

quomodo conversa es in amaritudine
how are you changed into bitterness

ut crucifigeres me?
so that you crucify me?

Fifth Word: Sitio!
Benny Edwards, baritone
Graham Leonard, tenor

Sitio!
“I am thirsty!”

Judæi prætereuntes blasphemabant eum,
The Jews passing by cursed him,

moventes capita sua et dicentes:
moving their heads and saying:

qui destruis templum Dei,
“You who would destroy the temple of God,

si tu es Christus, Filius Dei,
if you are the Christ, the Son of God,

descende nunc de cruce
come down now from the cross

ut videamus et credamus tibi.
that we might see and believe you.

Si tu es rex Judæorum,
If you are the king of the Jews,

salvum te fac.
save yourself!”

Sixth Word: Pater, in manus tuas
Graham Leonard, tenor

Pater, in manus tuas
Father, into your hands

commendo spiritum meum.
I commend my spirit.

Pater, meus es tu, Deus meus,
You are my father, my God,

susceptor salutis meæ.
the guardian of my salvation.

Seventh Word: Consummatum est
Benny Edwards, baritone
Mary Lou Vaughan, soprano
Jack Neely, tenor

Et clamans Jesu voce magna dixit:
And shouting with a great voice Jesus said:

Consummatum est!
“It is complete!”

Et inclinato capite, tradidit spiritum.
And with head bowed, surrendered his spirit.

Erat autem fere hora sexta;
It was moreover nearly the sixth hour;

obscuratus est sol,
the sun was darkened,

et tenebræ factæ sunt
and shadows covered

in universam terram;
the entire earth;

velum temple scissum est;
the veil of the temple was split;

omnis terra tremuit;
the earth trembled;

petræ scissæ et monumenta aperta sunt.
rocks were split and graves were opened up.

Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi;
We adore you, Christ, and we bless you;

Quia per sanctam Crucem
since through the holy Cross

tuam redemisti mundum.
you have redeemed the world.