Salve Regina
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The "Salve Regina" is one of four Marian antiphons sung at different seasons within the Christian liturgical calendar. The Salve Regina is sung in the time between Trinity Sunday and the Feast of Christ the King. In the vernacular as a prayer to the Virgin Mary, the Hail Holy Queen is the final prayer of the Rosary.
The work was composed during the Middle Ages and originally appeared in Latin, the prevalent language of Western Christianity until modern times. Traditionally it has been sung in Latin, though many translations exist. These are often used as spoken prayers.
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[edit] Latin Text
- Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiae,
- vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
- Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Hevae,
- ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
- in hac lacrimarum valle.
- Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos
- misericordes oculos ad nos converte;
- et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
- nobis post hoc exilium ostende.
- O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.
In some forms, is added:
- Ora pro nobis sancta Dei Genetrix.
- Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.
[edit] Translations
Variations exist among most translations.
- Traditional English Translation:
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve;
to thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us;
and after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
V./ Pray for us O holy Mother of God,
R./ that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.
- The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has a more simple, and up-to-date version:
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy,
our life, our sweetness, and our hope.
To you we cry, the children of Eve;
to you we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this land of exile.
Turn, then, most gracious advocate,
your eyes of mercy toward us;
lead us home at last
and show us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus:
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
- German (deutsch) Sei gegrüßt, oh Himmelskönigin
- Esperanto Saluton Reĝino
- French (français) Salut, ô Reine
- Spanish (Español) Salve
[edit] English Hymns based on the Latin original
The Divine Office offers the following hymn as an alternative to the Latin:
Hail, our Queen and Mother blest!
Joy when all was sadness,
Life and hope you gave mankind,
Mother of our gladness!
Children of the sinful Eve,
Sinless Eve, befriend us,
Exiled in this vale of tears:
Strength and comfort send us!
Pray for us, O Patroness,
Be our consolation!
Lead us home to see your Son,
Jesus, our salvation!
Gracious are you, full of grace,
Loving as none other,
Joy of heaven and joy of earth,
Mary, God's own Mother!
Catholic missals generally list two or three verses similar to the following:
Hail, Holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria!
Hail, Mother of mercy and of love, O Maria!
Triumph all ye cherubim!
Sing with us ye seraphim!
Heaven and earth resound the hymn!
Salve, salve, salve, Regina!
Our life, our sweetness here below, O Maria!
Our hope in sorrow and in woe, O Maria!
Triumph all ye cherubim!
Sing with us ye seraphim!
Heaven and earth resound the hymn!
Salve, salve, salve, Regina!
As with many hymns, many more verses exist, but are rarely printed or sung. The Latin text from which these verses are translated is:
Salve Regina coelitum, O Maria!
Sors unica terrigenum, O Maria!
Jubilate, Cherubim,
Exsultate, Seraphim!
Consonante perpetim:
Salve, Salve, Salve Regina.
Mater misericordiae, O Maria!
Dulcis parens clementiae, O Maria!
Jubilate, Cherubim,
Exsultate, Seraphim!
Consonante perpetim:
Salve, Salve, Salve Regina.
The movie Sister Act featured lyrics in English and Latin along these lines.
[edit] Background and history
The Salve Regina is predominantly used in the Catholic Church, typically around feast days like the Assumption or Immaculate Conception. However, as a hymn it is less used than in the past due to the reforms of Vatican II and the subsequent explosion of vernacular hymns. As a piece of music, it is extremely old, an example of the Gregorian chant of the Middle Ages; the tune may date back as far as the 11th century.
The origin of this prayer is unclear, although it is usually attributed either to St. Anselm of Lucca (d. 1080) or St. Bernard. It was set down in its current form at the Abbey of Cluny in the 12th century, and has been widely used in Catholic liturgy since that time. It is commonly said after the completion of the rosary. Liturgically, it is one of four prescribed Marian anthems recited after the office of compline.
