The medieval Church delighted in liturgical proliferation. It extended its established liturgical chants by troping new texts and melodies onto already composed pieces, it established completely new genres of chant, and it continually expanded the very liturgical calendar by creating new feasts to express more elaborate and idiosyncratic devotion. The latter is clearly the case with the Mass of the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin, a late Marian acretion to the highest Christological celebrations leading up to Easter. By the fifteenth century, many churches of Western Europe were celebrating the feast on the eve of Palm Sunday—experiencing and reenacting the life of the Virgin Mary as well as the more distant deity Jesus. Recordare Virgo mater is a Gregorian plainchant sung during the Offertory of that Marian Mass.

The Mass of the Seven Sorrows recalls seven key moments in the life of the Virgin: the prophecy of Simeon that a sword would pierce her breast, the flight into Egypt with her family, Jesus in the temple, and four events of the Passion and crucifixion of her Son that pierced her with sadness. The music codified for this feast (which is still celebrated today) includes one of the most famous Sequences, the Stabat mater, which eloquently paints an image of the Mother standing at the foot of Jesus' cross.

Yet Recordare Virgo mater is even more central to the devotion on the feast of the Seven Sorrows. As an Offertory, it falls between the scripture readings and the actual celebration of the Mass embodying Christ's very sacrifice. Its specific text also serves a somewhat different devotional purpose. Whereas the Stabat mater and the other opening chants of this feast tell the story of Mary's suffering over her Son, Recordare Virgo mater brings her suffering to bear on the life of humanity. It asks the Virgin mother to pray for all of us before the face of her Son, to speak words to Him on our behalf, that His wrath may be averted. From the drama of the Virgin's relationship to her Son, Recordare Virgo mater seeks her intimate prayers on our behalf.

© Timothy Dickey, All Music Guide