Ave Regina caelorum

The Ave Regina caelorum is sung as the concluding antiphon in each of the Hours of the Daily Office during the pre-Lent and Lenten seasons, i.e. from the Feast of the Presentation (2nd February) until Maundy Thursday.

It appears to be of monastic origin but the author is unknown (dating from around the 12th century). Herman Contractus (+1054) is often suggested as the author, for he wrote several popular Marian antiphons arround then. This antiphon is one of the traditional concluding antiphons for Compline in use since the 13th century. It is traditionally recited from the Feast of the Purification (Feb. 2) until Wednesday in Holy Week. The traditional collect, which is not a part of the antiphon proper, is also given below. As noted by St. Jerome, the versicle and response originally appeared in the writings of St. Ephrem the Syrian (306-373).

Oremus
Concede, misericors Deus, fragilitati nostrae praesidium; ut, qui sanctae Dei Genetricis memoriam agimus; intercessionis eius auxilio, a nostris iniquitatibus resurgamus. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Let us pray
Grant, O merciful God, to our weak natures Thy protection, that we who commemorate the holy Mother of God may, by the help of her intercession, arise from our iniquities. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

From the Roman Breviary.

Musical settings at CPDL

Gregor Aichinger Ambrosian Chant Gregorian Chant arr. Abel Di Marco William Byrd Marc-Antoine Charpentier Guillaume Dufay a 3 a 4 Fabio Fresi Robert Führer Andrea Gabrieli José Maurício Nunes Garcia Francisco Guerrero Orlando di Lasso

Isabella Leonarda Alonso Lobo Antonio Lotti Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (a 4) Peter Philips (SSATB) Giovanni Antonio Rigatti (S solo and continuo) Georg Valentin Röder (from Vespers, SATB with orchestra) Antonio Sacchini Juan Garcia de Salazar Johannes Nepomuk Skraup Francesco Soriano Tomás Luis de Victoria a 5 a 8 Sigismund Ritter von Neukomm

Texts and translations

The text of this antiphon appears to have remained fairly unchanged since the 12th century, small variants being noted below. Dufay's setting is unique in ending with an Alleluia, which probably stems from the earlier use of the antiphon at the Annunciation.

Latin text

Ave Regina coelorum,

Ave Domina Angelorum:

Salve radix, salve porta,

[or Salve, radix sancta,]

Ex qua mundo lux est orta:

Gaude Virgo gloriosa,

Super omnes speciosa,

Vale, o valde decora,

Et pro nobis Christum [semper] exora.

English translation

Hail, Queen of the heavens,

Hail, ruler of the angels:

Hail, root, hail, portal

[or Hail, holy root]

From whom light has shone to the world.

Hail, Virgin most glorious,

Beautiful above all,

Farewell, O most comely,

And pray [always] to Christ for us.

English translation

HAIL, O Queen of Heav'n enthron'd,

Hail, by angels Mistress own'd

Root of Jesse, Gate of morn,

Whence the world's true light was born.

Glorious Virgin, joy to thee,

Lovliest whom in Heaven they see,

Fairest thou where all are fair!

Plead with Christ our sins to spare.

V. Allow me to praise thee, holy Virgin.

R. Give me strength against thy enemies.

Translation by Fr. Edward Caswall (1814-1878)
from http://www.preces-latinae.org/thesaurus/BVM/AveRegina.html

Castellano

Salve, reina de los cielos,

Salve, señora de los ángeles,

Salve, raíz santa, de quien nació la luz al mundo.

Alégrate, Virgen gloriosa,

entre todas la más bella.

Salve a tí, la más hermosa. Ruega a Cristo por nosotros.