Ave Regina cœlorum

Hail, O Queen of heaven enthroned

The Hymns of the Breviary and Missal

Ave Regina clorum,
Ave Domina Angelorum:
Salve radix, salve porta,
Ex qua mundo lux est orta:
Gauda Virgo gloriosa,
Super omnes speciosa,
Vale, o valde decora,
Et pro nobis Christum exora.

Hail, O Queen of heaven enthroned!
Hail, by Angels Mistress owned!
Root of Jesse, Gate of morn,
Whence the worlds true Light was born:
Glorious Virgin, joy to thee,
Loveliest whom in heaven they see:
Fairest thou where all are fair,
Plead with Christ our sins to spare.

Authorship and date of composition uncertain. It has been in use since the twelfth century. Meter: Trochaic dimeter. Translation by Father Caswall. There are at least four additional translations. Liturgical Use: Antiphon proper to the season after the Purification, that is, from the end of Compline of Feb. 2^nd (even should the Feast of the Purification be transferred) until Maundy Thursday, exclusive.

“Hail, Queen of Heaven; hail, Mistress of Angels; hail, Root; hail, Portal whence came forth Light unto the world.”
“Rejoice, O glorious Virgin, surpassing all in beauty; we greet thee, Virgin most fair, intercede with Christ for us.”
Radix: “root of Jesse,” i.e., an offshoot from the root of Jesse; a descendant of Jesse, the father of David. The Blessed Virgin was of the House of David; Jesse therefore was one of her ancestors. Mary is a root of Jesse, but her Divine Son is the root of Jesse (cf. Is. 11, 1; Rom. 15, 12).