Tristis est anima mea (responsory)

Duccio di Buoninsegna - Agony in the Garden - WGA06790

Tristis est anima mea is a responsory from the Tenebrae service of Holy Week in the Christian liturgy. The text is derived from the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 26:38) and is traditionally sung during the Maundy Thursday service. The title translates to "My soul is sorrowful" in English.

Text

The Latin text of the responsory is as follows: Tristis est anima mea usque ad mortem: sustinete hic, et vigilate mecum: nunc videbitis turbam, quae circumdabit me. Vos fugam capietis, et ego vadam immolari pro vobis. Ecce appropinquat hora, et Filius hominis tradetur in manus peccatorum.

In English, this translates to: My soul is sorrowful even unto death: stay here and watch with me: now you will see the crowd that will surround me. You will take flight, and I will go to be sacrificed for you. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Liturgical Use

The responsory is part of the Tenebrae service, which is a series of Matins and Lauds services held during the last three days of Holy Week. The service is characterized by the gradual extinguishing of candles, symbolizing the abandonment of Jesus Christ by his disciples and the darkness that covered the earth at the time of his crucifixion.

Musical Settings

Many composers have set "Tristis est anima mea" to music, including:

• Carlo Gesualdo
• Orlande de Lassus
• Tomás Luis de Victoria
• Francis Poulenc

These settings vary in style from the Renaissance polyphony of Gesualdo and Victoria to the more modern harmonies of Poulenc.

Significance

The responsory is significant in the Christian tradition as it reflects the sorrow and anguish of Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane before his arrest. It is a poignant reminder of the human suffering of Christ and his ultimate sacrifice for humanity.

See Also

• Tenebrae
• Holy Week
• Maundy Thursday
• Gospel of Matthew
• Crucifixion of Jesus