Annunciation: Hail Mary, full of grace!

Annunciation by John Collier

This day's scriptures for the Solemnity of the Annunciation include the gospel source for the prayer, Hail Mary. Here are two musical selections for this feast:  Chanticleer's rendition of the Josquin Desprez piece which begins with the scriptural verse and expands on it; and the more contemporary take on Gabriel's' Message by Sting.

Ave Maria

Hail Mary,  

gratia plena

full of grace  

dominus tecum,

the Lord is with thee,  

virgo serena.

serene Virgin.        

Ave, cuius conceptio,

Hail, whose conception,  

solemni plena gaudio,

full of great jubilation,  

coelestia terrestria

fills Heaven and Earth  

nova replet laetitia.

with new joy.  

Ave, cuius nativitas

Hail, whose birth  

nostra fuit solemnitas,

brought us joy,  

ut lucifer lux oriens

as a torch in the east,  

verum solem praeveniens.     

coming before the true sun.
 

Ave, pia humilitas,

Hail, pious humility,  

sine viro fecunditas,

fruitful without a man,  

cuius annuntiatio

whose Annuciation  

nostra fuit salvatio.

brought us salvation        

Ave, vera virginitas,

Hail, true virginity,    

immaculata castitas,

immaculate chastity,    

cuius purificatio

whose purification    

nostra fuit purgatio.

brought our cleansing.        

Ave, praeclara omnibus

Hail, glorious one  

angelicis virtutibus,

in all angelic virtues,  

cuius assumptio

whose Assumption    

nostra glorificatio.

was our glorification.           

O mater Dei,

O Mother of God,    

memento mei. Amen.

remember me. Amen.

 
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