Antiphon of Our Lady, 12th century

Ave Regina Caelorum — Hail, Queen of Heaven

Antiphon of Our Lady from the Presentation to Holy Week

LatinEnglish

Ave, Regina caelorum,
ave, Domina Angelorum:
salve, radix, salve, porta,
ex qua mundo lux est orta.

Hail, O Queen of heaven,
hail, O Lady of the Angels:
hail, thou root, hail, thou gate,
from whom the Light has risen on the world.

Gaude, Virgo gloriosa,
super omnes speciosa:
vale, o valde decora,
et pro nobis Christum exora.

Rejoice, O glorious Virgin,
lovely above all others:
farewell, O most beautiful,
and pray to Christ for us.

℣. Dignare me laudare te, Virgo sacrata.
℟. Da mihi virtutem contra hostes tuos.
Oremus. Concede, misericors Deus, fragilitati nostrae praesidium: ut, qui sanctae Dei Genetricis memoriam agimus, intercessionis eius auxilio a nostris iniquitatibus resurgamus. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

℣. Grant that I may praise thee, O holy Virgin.
℟. Give me strength against thine enemies.
Let us pray. Grant, O merciful God, a safeguard to our frailty; that we who keep the memory of the holy Mother of God may, by the help of her intercession, rise again from our iniquities. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

SourceAntiphon of Our Lady, 12th century · Antiphon of Our Lady from the Presentation to Holy Week

The history of this prayer

The Ave Regina Caelorum is one of the four antiphons of Our Lady that close Compline, the last prayer of the day. Its author is unknown; the text appears in manuscripts from the twelfth century onwards.

In the Roman Breviary reformed under Saint Pius V, it was assigned to late winter and Lent: from Compline of 2 February, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, until Wednesday of Holy Week. That is why its tone is a quiet greeting, without the alleluias of Eastertide.

Its two stanzas of four lines each call Mary the root and the gate from which the Light rose upon the world. The older form of the Breviary adds a versicle and a prayer asking for strength to rise from our sins. In Church Latin, “caelorum” is said “chay-LOR-um” and “Angelorum” “an-jay-LOR-um”.

Like the other Marian antiphons, it has been set by many composers, among them Dufay, Tomás Luis de Victoria and Charpentier. Said at the end of the day, it is a farewell: it hands to Our Lady what lies behind us and asks her to plead with Christ for us.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Ave Regina Caelorum prayed?

Traditionally at the end of Compline, from 2 February (the Presentation of the Lord) until Wednesday of Holy Week. It can be prayed at any time as a prayer to Our Lady.

Who wrote the Ave Regina Caelorum?

Its author is unknown. The antiphon is found in manuscripts from the twelfth century onwards.

More prayers: Our Lady

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