Tristis est anima mea (responsory)

Tristis est anima mea is the second responsory of the Tenebrae for Maundy Thursday. The Latin text refers to Christ's Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, a part of his Passion.

The theme of the text of the second responsory for Maundy Thursday is Jesus in the garden Gethsemane, addressing his disciples.

The first two lines of the responsory are . In the King James Version, the beginning of the Latin text, told in the first person, is translated as "My soul is exceeding sorrowful".

While the first two lines are quoted from the bible, the last two lines of are free anonymous poetry, predicting they will see a crowd, they will flee, and Jesus will go to be sacrificed for them.

Responsorium:

Tristis est anima mea usque ad mortem :
sustinete hic, et vigilate mecum :
nunc videbitis turbam, quæ circumdabit me.
Vos fugam capietis, et ego vadam immolari pro vobis.

Versus:

Ecce appropinquat hora, et Filius hominis tradetur in manus peccatorum.
Vos fugam capietis, et ego vadam immolari pro vobis.

Translations are offered by the Episcopal Church and the Roman Catholic Church:

Responsorium:

My soul is sorrowful even unto death ;
stay you here, and watch with me.
Now ye shall see a multitude, that will surround me.
Ye shall run away, and I will go to be sacrificed for you.

Versus:

Behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Ye shall run away, and I will go to be sacrificed for you.

Motets and other musical settings based on the responsory:

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