THE FOUR MARIAN ANTHEMS

By Tim Claubaugh

This season, the Parish Choir has taken up the practice of singing one of the four Marian Anthems at the Sunday 9:30 Masses. This custom is retained in many churches and cathedrals, especially in a church or cathedral where the name of that house of worship is named after our Blessed Virgin Mary.

The "seasonal anthem" is sung on Sundays and Marian feasts throughout the year towards the end of Mass. At St. Mary's we have been singing it as a Communion Meditation piece. These are 4 Gregorian Chants that have been a rich part of our Catholic heritage for well over a thousand years.

The four Marian Anthems are as follows:

“Alma Redemptoris Mater” (Advent – Presentation of the Lord)
Alma Redemptoris Mater,quae pervia caeli Porta manes,et stella maris, succurre cadenti, Surgere qui curat, populo:Tu quae genuisti, Natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem,Virgo prius ac posterius,Gabrielis ab orceSumens illud Ave, peccatorum Miserere.

Loving mother of the Redeemer,Gate of heaven, star of the sea,Assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise againTo the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator,Yet remained a virgin after as before.You who received Gabreil’s joyful greeting,Have pity on us poor sinners.
-Translation from “Liturgy of the Hour"

“Ave Regina Caelorum” (Candlemas – Wednesday of Holy Week)
Ave Regina caelorum, Ave Domina AngelorumSalve radix, salve porta,Ex qua mundo lux est orta:Gaude Virgo gloriosa, Super omnes speciosa:Vale o valde decora,Et pro nobis Chirstum exora.

Hail, Queen of the Heavens, Hail, Ruler of AngelsHail Root, Hail GateFrom whom the Light is rising on the world.Rejoice, O glorious Virgin, of all mankind, the fairest:Thou art worthy, O Lady of exceeding beauty,Pray to Christ for us. - Translation by Dr. Rudolph Masciantonio

“Regina Caeli” (Easter Sunday – Pentecost Sunday)Regina caeli laetare, Alleluia:Quia quem meruisti portare, Alleluia:Resurrexit, sicut dixit, Alleluia:Ora Pro nobis Deum, Alleluia.

Queen of heaven, rejoice! Alleluia!For he whom you did merit to bear. Alleluia!Has risen, as he said. Alleluia!Pray for us to God. Alleluia!
- Translation from the “Liturgy of the Hours”

“Salve Regina” (Day after Pentecost – Christ the King)
Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae;Vita, dulcedo et spes nostra, salve,Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae.Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentesIn hac lacrimarum valle.Eia ergo, advocata nostra,Illos tuos misericordes oculosAd nos converte.Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tuiNobis post hoc exsilium ostende.O Clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo Maria.

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy,Our life, our sweetness, and our hope.To you do we cry,Poor banished children of Eve.To you do we send up our sighsMourning and weeping in this vale of tears.Turn then, most gracious advocate,Your eyes of mercy toward us,And after this exileshow us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.O Clement, o loving, o sweet Virgin Mary.
-Translation from the “Liturgy of the Hours”


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