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Above the splendid bronze doors, the gift of Landolfo Butomilea and his wife shortly after Guiscard’s death, we perceive the dedication of the church to the Apostle Matthew by the proud conqueror of the Two Sicilies and the protector of Hildebrand. “A Duce Roberto donaris Apostole templo: Pro meritis regno donetur ipse superno.”
And he sang alone to the sky and the dusty rocks and the solemn grave. He sang the 'Cujus animam gementem pertransivit gladius' of the Stabat Mater, as none had sung it before him, nor perhaps has ever sung it since that day he alone, without other music. They came also to the words 'Fac ut animæ donetur Paradisi gloria, and the word was a name to him who listened silently in their midst.
The soft voices of the nuns mingled in plaintive harmony as they sang the hymn of the Virgin: "Pia Mater! Fons amoris! Me sentire vim doloris Fac, ut tecum lugeam!" Again came the soft pleading notes of the sacred hymn: "Quando corpus morietur, Fac ut animae donetur Paradisi gloria! Amen!"
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