The Catholic Church has been singing to Mary for nearly two thousand years. Here are her great hymns and antiphons — in Latin, in English, and as they are still sung by the people of God today.
Sub Tuum Praesidium
The oldest known Marian prayer in the world, found on a Greek papyrus in Egypt and dated to around 250 A.D. The Christian people are already calling Mary Theotokos.
Latin
Sub tuum praesidium confugimus,
Sancta Dei Genetrix.
Nostras deprecationes ne despicias
in necessitatibus,
sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper,
Virgo gloriosa et benedicta.
English
Beneath your protection we take refuge,
holy Mother of God.
Despise not our petitions
in our necessities,
but deliver us always from all dangers,
O glorious and blessed Virgin.
Sub Tuum Praesidium — Latin Gregorian Chant, the oldest known prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Salve Regina
Sung at the close of Compline since the eleventh century. The Church’s last prayer before sleep, in Ordinary Time.
Latin
Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiae,
vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevae;
ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos
misericordes oculos ad nos converte;
et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.
English
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy,
our life, our sweetness, and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve;
to thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn, then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us;
and after this our exile, show unto us
the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Salve Regina — Gregorian Chant by the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos
Regina Caeli
The Easter antiphon, sung from Easter Sunday through Pentecost. It replaces the Angelus during the great fifty days of Easter.
Latin
Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia.
Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia.
Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia.
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.
English
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.
Regina Caeli — Gregorian Chant
Alma Redemptoris Mater
The Advent and Christmas antiphon, sung at Compline from the First Sunday of Advent through the Feast of the Presentation (2 February).
Latin
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 ore sumens illud Ave,
peccatorum miserere.
English
Loving Mother of the Redeemer,
who remains the open gate of heaven,
and Star of the Sea:
help your fallen people who strive to rise.
You who, while nature wondered,
gave birth to your Holy Creator,
Virgin before and after,
receiving that “Ave” from the mouth of Gabriel,
have mercy on us sinners.
Alma Redemptoris Mater — Sung by the Benedictine Monks of the Abbey of Ganagobie
Ave Maria
The Hail Mary in its Latin form. The first half is taken directly from Scripture (Luke 1:28 and 1:42); the second half was added in the late Middle Ages. Schubert’s setting (1825) is the most famous of countless musical settings.
Latin
Ave Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
English
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Ave Maria — Franz Schubert
Magnificat
Mary’s own song, sung at the Visitation (Luke 1:46–55). Prayed every evening at Vespers throughout the universal Church.
Latin (opening)
Magnificat anima mea Dominum,
et exsultavit spiritus meus
in Deo salutari meo.
Quia respexit humilitatem
ancillae suae;
ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent
omnes generationes.
English
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices
in God my Saviour.
For he has looked with favour
on his lowly handmaid;
henceforth all generations
will call me blessed.
Magnificat — sung at Vespers
Tota Pulchra Es
A 4th-century antiphon for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (8 December). Maurice Duruflé’s 1960 setting is among the most haunting modern arrangements.
Latin
Tota pulchra es, Maria.
Et macula originalis non est in te.
Vestimentum tuum candidum quasi nix,
et facies tua sicut sol.
Tu gloria Ierusalem,
tu laetitia Israel,
tu honorificentia populi nostri.
Tota pulchra es, Maria.
English
You are all beautiful, Mary,
and the original stain is not in you.
Your clothing is white as snow,
and your face is like the sun.
You are the glory of Jerusalem,
you are the joy of Israel,
you give honour to our people.
You are all beautiful, Mary.
Tota Pulchra Es Maria — Maurice Duruflé (Maîtrise Saint Louis de Versailles)
Stabat Mater
The 13th-century hymn on Mary at the foot of the Cross. Sung especially during Holy Week and on the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. Pergolesi’s setting (1736) is the most famous.
Latin (opening)
Stabat Mater dolorosa
iuxta crucem lacrimosa,
dum pendebat Filius.
Cuius animam gementem,
contristatam et dolentem,
pertransivit gladius.
English
At the cross her station keeping,
stood the mournful Mother weeping,
close to Jesus to the last.
Through her heart, his sorrow sharing,
all his bitter anguish bearing,
now at length the sword had passed.
Stabat Mater — Pergolesi (Voces8)
The four Marian antiphons (Alma Redemptoris Mater, Ave Regina Caelorum, Regina Caeli, and Salve Regina) rotate through the liturgical year — one for each season — and have been the closing of the Church’s daily prayer since the eleventh century.
Journey with Mary, Path to Jesus 