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Ave Regina cœlorum

Hail, O Queen of heaven enthroned

The Hymns of the Breviary and Missal

  1. Ave Regina cœlorum,
    Ave Domina Angelorum:
    Salve radix, salve porta,
    Ex qua mundo lux est orta:
  2. Gauda Virgo gloriosa,
    Super omnes speciosa,
    Vale, o valde decora,
    Et pro nobis Christum exora.
  1. Hail, O Queen of heaven enthroned!
    Hail, by Angels Mistress owned!
    Root of Jesse, Gate of morn,
    Whence the world’s true Light was born:
  2. 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. 2nd (even should the Feast of the Purification be transferred) until Maundy Thursday, exclusive.

  1. “Hail, Queen of Heaven; hail, Mistress of Angels; hail, Root; hail, Portal whence came forth Light unto the world.”
  2. “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).