Wednesday, 3 February 2021

Ave, Regina Caelorum - Marian antiphon for the Lenten season

At seminary, we regularly had the Marian antiphon of the season sung after the divine office of prayer, and sometimes after Masses, perhaps. If I remember correctly. I remember hearing that in the past, there was a lot more devotion to Mary within and around the liturgy of the Church, several more Masses. There was an entire office of prayer, sitting independently from the divine office, called the Little Office of our Lady. When that was all trimmed away, the Marian antiphons and their accompanying prayers were reserved for constant use. These are still mentioned in our Diocesan Ordo, produced annually.

The present antiphon began yesterday, on the feast day of the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple, aka. the Purification of our Blessed Lady after childbirth (see Leviticus, chapter 12). Below is how it is sung, with the words. Below that is a translation, which calls Mary the Root of Jesse, for she was of the race of King David (whose father was Jesse, see Isaiah, 11: 10), and the Gateway, through whose humanity (taken up by Christ), we have access to the light. Most lovely is she and fairest among the children of men, as I'm certain Saint Bernadette Soubirous and the shepherd-children of Fátima would agree.

Hail, o Queen of heaven,
Hail, o Lady of the Angels,
Greetings, o Root of Jesse, o Gateway,
You from whom the Light of the World did rise.

Rejoice, o glorious Virgin,
Most lovely than all else,
Farewell, o fairest one,
and pray thou to Christ for us.

1 comment:

  1. Traditional Catholic churches still keep these traditions! Deo Deo gratias!

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