Ave Regina Caelorum
Ave Regina Caelorum
This short hymn dates from the twelfth century and is sung at the end of night prayer from February 2 until the Easter Triduum. It greets Mary four times in a row, then asks only one thing: that she pray to Christ for us. “Root” recalls the shoot from the root of Jesse foretold by Isaiah.
12th century; Isaiah 11:1
Hail, Queen of Heaven;
hail, Lady of the angels.
Hail, root, and hail, gate,
from whom the Light has risen on the world.
Rejoice, glorious Virgin,
lovely beyond all others;
farewell, O most fair one,
and pray to Christ for us.
Amen.