Hymns
The ancient hymns of the Church, sung to the Blessed Virgin across the centuries, gathered here in Latin and English.
The Tradition
For more than a thousand years, the faithful have lifted their voices in song to the Mother of God. These Marian hymns are among the oldest and most beloved prayers in the Catholic tradition, composed by monks, saints and poets whose names are sometimes lost to time but whose words endure.
Each hymn carries the weight of centuries. They were sung at Vespers and Compline, in candlelit abbeys and silent chapels, by communities who believed that beauty itself was a form of prayer.
The Canticle of Mary, drawn from the Gospel of Luke (1:46–55), spoken by the Blessed Virgin upon visiting her cousin Elizabeth. It has been sung at Vespers every evening since the earliest centuries of the Church, and remains one of the most exalted expressions of praise in all of Scripture.
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| Magnificat anima mea Dominum, | My soul magnifies the Lord, |
| et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo, | and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, |
| quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae. | for he has regarded the humility of his servant. |
| Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes, | For behold, from now on all generations shall call me blessed. |
| quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est, | For he who is mighty has done great things for me, |
| et sanctum nomen eius, | and holy is his name. |
| et misericordia eius a progenie in progenies timentibus eum. |
And his mercy is from generation to generation upon those who fear him. |
| Fecit potentiam in brachio suo, | He has shown strength with his arm, |
| dispersit superbos mente cordis sui. | he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. |
| Deposuit potentes de sede, | He has cast down the mighty from their thrones |
| et exaltavit humiles. | and has exalted the humble. |
| Esurientes implevit bonis, | He has filled the hungry with good things, |
| et divites dimisit inanes. | and the rich he has sent away empty. |
| Suscepit Israel puerum suum, | He has helped his servant Israel, |
| recordatus misericordiae suae, | remembering his mercy, |
| sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, | as he spoke to our fathers, |
| Abraham et semini eius in saecula. | to Abraham and to his offspring forever. |
Attributed to Hermann of Reichenau, an eleventh-century Benedictine monk, the Salve Regina is the most widely known of the four seasonal Marian antiphons. It is sung at Compline from Trinity Sunday until Advent, and closes the Rosary. Its tender language of exile and longing has consoled the faithful for nearly a thousand years.
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae, | Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, |
| vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve. | our life, our sweetness, and our hope. |
| Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Hevae. | To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. |
| Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle. |
To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. |
| Eia ergo, advocata nostra, | Turn then, most gracious Advocate, |
| illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte. | thine eyes of mercy toward us. |
| Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, | And after this our exile, show unto us |
| nobis post hoc exsilium ostende. | the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. |
| O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria. | O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. |
Also attributed to Hermann of Reichenau (1013–1054), this antiphon is sung at Compline from the First Sunday of Advent through the Feast of the Presentation. It invokes Mary as the gate of heaven and the star of the sea, calling upon her mercy for all who stumble and strive to rise again.
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli | Loving Mother of the Redeemer, gate of heaven, |
| porta manes, et stella maris, | star of the sea, |
| succurre cadenti, surgere qui curat, populo; | assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise again. |
| tu quae genuisti, natura mirante, | You who bore your Creator, to the wonder of nature, |
| tuum sanctum Genitorem, | and yet remained a virgin after as before, |
| Virgo prius ac posterius, | — |
| Gabrielis ab ore sumens illud Ave, | you who received Gabriel’s joyful greeting, |
| peccatorum miserere. | have mercy on us sinners. |
One of the four Marian antiphons of the Liturgy of the Hours, sung at Compline from the Feast of the Presentation until Holy Wednesday. Its origins reach back to at least the twelfth century. The hymn hails Mary as Queen of Heaven and Lady of Angels, radiant above all creation.
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| Ave, Regina caelorum, | Hail, Queen of Heaven. |
| Ave, Domina Angelorum, | Hail, Lady of Angels. |
| Salve, radix, salve, porta, | Hail, root of Jesse, hail, gate |
| ex qua mundo lux est orta. | from whom unto the world a light has arisen. |
| Gaude, Virgo gloriosa, | Rejoice, glorious Virgin, |
| super omnes speciosa, | beautiful above all others, |
| vale, o valde decora, | farewell, most gracious one, |
| et pro nobis Christum exora. | and pray for us to Christ. |
The Easter antiphon of the Blessed Virgin, sung from Holy Saturday through Pentecost. Its authorship is unknown, though tradition sometimes ascribes it to the sixth century. During Eastertide it replaces the Angelus, and its joyful alleluias celebrate the Resurrection with a mother’s tenderness.
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia. | Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia. |
| Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia. | For he whom you did merit to bear, alleluia, |
| Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia. | has risen as he said, alleluia. |
| Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia. | Pray for us to God, alleluia. |
The oldest known prayer to the Blessed Virgin, dating to approximately the third century. A fragment was discovered on a Greek papyrus in Egypt, revealing that Christians have sought Mary’s protection since the very earliest days of the faith. It is brief, urgent and profoundly tender.
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, sancta Dei Genetrix; |
We fly to your protection, O holy Mother of God; |
| nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus nostris, |
despise not our petitions in our necessities, |
| sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, | but deliver us always from all dangers, |
| Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. | O glorious and blessed Virgin. |
A plainsong hymn to the Blessed Virgin dating to at least the eighth century, often attributed to Venantius Fortunatus or Paul the Deacon. It has been sung at Vespers for centuries, and its opening words — “Hail, star of the sea” — have become one of the most beloved titles of Our Lady.
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| Ave, maris stella, Dei Mater alma, atque semper Virgo, felix caeli porta. |
Hail, star of the sea, loving Mother of God, ever Virgin, happy gate of heaven. |
| Sumens illud Ave Gabrielis ore, funda nos in pace, mutans Evae nomen. |
Receiving that “Ave” from Gabriel’s mouth, establish us in peace, reversing the name of Eve. |
| Solve vincla reis, profer lumen caecis, mala nostra pelle, bona cuncta posce. |
Break the chains of sinners, bring light to the blind, drive away our evils, ask for us all good things. |
| Monstra te esse matrem, sumat per te preces qui pro nobis natus tulit esse tuus. |
Show yourself a mother, may he receive prayers through you who, born for us, chose to be yours. |
| Virgo singularis, inter omnes mitis, nos culpis solutos mites fac et castos. |
O singular Virgin, meek above all others, make us free from sin and gentle and chaste. |
| Vitam praesta puram, iter para tutum, ut videntes Iesum semper collaetemur. |
Grant us a pure life, prepare for us a safe way, that seeing Jesus we may rejoice forever. |
| Sit laus Deo Patri, summo Christo decus, Spiritui Sancto, tribus honor unus. Amen. |
Praise be to God the Father, glory to Christ on high, and to the Holy Spirit, one honor to the Three. Amen. |
A beloved Marian hymn of Sicilian origin, also known as the Sicilian Mariners’ Hymn. Its melody was carried across the Mediterranean by sailors who entrusted themselves to the Virgin before every voyage. The text is a simple, heartfelt invocation of the Blessed Mother in her most gentle and consoling titles.
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| O sanctissima, O piissima, dulcis Virgo Maria! |
O most holy one, O most loving one, sweet Virgin Mary! |
| Mater amata, intemerata, | Beloved Mother, undefiled, |
| ora, ora pro nobis. | pray, pray for us. |
A medieval hymn of praise to Our Lady under her most radiant titles — Mother of Mercy, Mother of hope, Mother of grace, and Mother full of holy joy. Its origin lies in the monastic tradition of the Middle Ages, where each title was meditated upon as a facet of Mary’s boundless love.
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| Salve, Mater misericordiae, | Hail, Mother of Mercy, |
| Mater Dei, et Mater veniae, | Mother of God and Mother of forgiveness, |
| Mater spei et Mater gratiae, | Mother of hope and Mother of grace, |
| Mater plena sanctae laetitiae. | Mother full of holy joy. |
A popular English-language Marian hymn, often sung in processions and during the month of May. Based on the French hymn “Ave de Lourdes,” it became widely beloved after the apparitions at Lourdes in 1858. It is sung here in English only, as is the tradition.
| English | |
|---|---|
| Immaculate Mary, your praises we sing, You reign now in heaven with Jesus our King. |
Ave, ave, ave Maria! Ave, ave, ave Maria! |
| In heaven the blessed your glory proclaim; On earth we your children invoke your fair name. |
Ave, ave, ave Maria! Ave, ave, ave Maria! |
A beloved May Crowning hymn, traditionally sung as children carry flowers to crown a statue of the Blessed Virgin. Its origins are in nineteenth-century Catholic devotion, and it remains one of the most cherished hymns of the month of Mary.
| English | |
|---|---|
| Bring flowers of the rarest, bring blossoms the fairest, From garden and woodland and hillside and dale; Our full hearts are swelling, our glad voices telling The praise of the loveliest flower of the vale. |
|
| O Mary! We crown thee with blossoms today, Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May. |
The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, approved for public use by Pope Sixtus V in 1587, though its roots are far older. Named after the Holy House of Loreto in Italy, it is a litany of invocations calling upon Mary under her many titles — from Mirror of Justice to Morning Star, from Tower of David to Queen of Peace.
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| Kyrie, eleison. | Lord, have mercy. |
| Christe, eleison. | Christ, have mercy. |
| Kyrie, eleison. | Lord, have mercy. |
| Christe, audi nos. | Christ, hear us. |
| Christe, exaudi nos. | Christ, graciously hear us. |
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| Pater de caelis, Deus, miserere nobis. | God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us. |
| Fili, Redemptor mundi, Deus, miserere nobis. | God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. |
| Spiritus Sancte, Deus, miserere nobis. | God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. |
| Sancta Trinitas, unus Deus, miserere nobis. | Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. |
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis. | Holy Mary, pray for us. |
| Sancta Dei Genetrix, | Holy Mother of God, |
| Sancta Virgo virginum, | Holy Virgin of virgins, |
| Mater Christi, | Mother of Christ, |
| Mater Ecclesiae, | Mother of the Church, |
| Mater divinae gratiae, | Mother of divine grace, |
| Mater purissima, | Mother most pure, |
| Mater castissima, | Mother most chaste, |
| Mater inviolata, | Mother inviolate, |
| Mater intemerata, | Mother undefiled, |
| Mater amabilis, | Mother most lovable, |
| Mater admirabilis, | Mother most admirable, |
| Mater boni consilii, | Mother of good counsel, |
| Mater Creatoris, | Mother of our Creator, |
| Mater Salvatoris, | Mother of our Savior, |
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| Virgo prudentissima, | Virgin most prudent, |
| Virgo veneranda, | Virgin most venerable, |
| Virgo praedicanda, | Virgin most renowned, |
| Virgo potens, | Virgin most powerful, |
| Virgo clemens, | Virgin most merciful, |
| Virgo fidelis, | Virgin most faithful, |
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| Speculum iustitiae, | Mirror of justice, |
| Sedes sapientiae, | Seat of wisdom, |
| Causa nostrae laetitiae, | Cause of our joy, |
| Vas spirituale, | Spiritual vessel, |
| Vas honorabile, | Vessel of honor, |
| Vas insigne devotionis, | Singular vessel of devotion, |
| Rosa mystica, | Mystical rose, |
| Turris Davidica, | Tower of David, |
| Turris eburnea, | Tower of ivory, |
| Domus aurea, | House of gold, |
| Foederis arca, | Ark of the covenant, |
| Ianua caeli, | Gate of heaven, |
| Stella matutina, | Morning star, |
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| Salus infirmorum, | Health of the sick, |
| Refugium peccatorum, | Refuge of sinners, |
| Consolatrix afflictorum, | Comforter of the afflicted, |
| Auxilium Christianorum, | Help of Christians, |
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| Regina Angelorum, | Queen of Angels, |
| Regina Patriarcharum, | Queen of Patriarchs, |
| Regina Prophetarum, | Queen of Prophets, |
| Regina Apostolorum, | Queen of Apostles, |
| Regina Martyrum, | Queen of Martyrs, |
| Regina Confessorum, | Queen of Confessors, |
| Regina Virginum, | Queen of Virgins, |
| Regina Sanctorum omnium, | Queen of all Saints, |
| Regina sine labe originali concepta, | Queen conceived without original sin, |
| Regina in caelum assumpta, | Queen assumed into heaven, |
| Regina sacratissimi Rosarii, | Queen of the most holy Rosary, |
| Regina familiae, | Queen of the family, |
| Regina pacis, | Queen of peace, |
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, parce nobis, Domine. |
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord. |
| Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, exaudi nos, Domine. |
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord. |
| Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. |
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. |
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genetrix. | Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. |
| Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi. | That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. |
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| Concede nos famulos tuos, quaesumus Domine Deus, perpetua mentis et corporis sanitate gaudere; |
Grant, we beseech you, O Lord God, that we your servants may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body; |
| et gloriosa beatae Mariae semper Virginis intercessione, | and by the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, |
| a praesenti liberari tristitia, | may be delivered from present sorrow, |
| et aeterna perfrui laetitia. | and enjoy eternal joy. |
| Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. | Through Christ our Lord. Amen. |
