hymn paraphrases of Marian antiphons?
  • Felipe Gasper
    Posts: 804
    Hey all,

    Does anyone know of any hymn paraphrases of “Alma redemptoris” or “Ave regina cælorum”?
  • vincentuher
    Posts: 134
    Hello Felipe. ... here is what I found in the St. Ambrose Hymnal ... Caswall's translation of 'Ave Regina coelorum' (the suggested tune is
    'SONG 13' of Orlando Gibbons 77.77) :

    1. Hail, O Queen of heav'n, enthroned!
    Hail, by Angels Mistress owned!
    Root of Jesse, Gate of morn,
    Whence the world's true light is born.

    2. Glorious Virgin, joy to thee,
    loveliest whom in heav'n they see:
    fairest thou where all are fair,
    plead with Christ our sins to spare.

    There is also this translation, uncredited, in an older breviary:
    Hail, Queen of Heaven; hail, Mistress of the Angels;
    hail, root of Jesse; hail, the gate through which
    the Light rose over the earth.

    Rejoice, Virgin most renowned
    and of unsurpassed beauty.
    Farewell, Lady most comely.
    Prevail upon Christ to pity us.

    In the St. Ambrose Hymnal, there is another uncredited translation at #185 set to to Ave Regina Coelorum, Mode VI :

    Queen of the Heavens we hail thee!
    Hail thee, Lady of all the angels!
    Thou the dawn, the Door of morning
    whence the world's true Light is risen;
    Joy to thee, O Virgin glorious,
    beautiful beyond all other;
    hail, and farewell, O most gracious.
    Intercede for us always to Jesus.

    V. Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O holy Virgin.
    R. Give me strength against thine enemies.
    V. Let us pray: Grant us, O merciful God, protection in our weakness ...

    I will try to get a copy of the St. Ambrose Hymnal to you this Sunday at Our Lady of Walsingham via my parents or Margaret Pichon.
  • vincentuher
    Posts: 134
    Here is Father Caswall's translation of 'Alma Redemptoris Mater' :

    Mother of Christ, hear Thou thy people's cry,
    Star of the deep and portal of the sky,
    Mother of Him who Thee from nothing made,
    Sinking we strive and call to Thee for aid.
    Oh, by that joy which Gabriel brought to Thee,
    Thou Virgin first and last, let us Thy mercy see.

    And there is also the Ven. John Henry Newman's translation :

    Kindly Mother of the Redeemer, who art ever of heaven
    The open gate, and the star of the sea, aid a fallen people,
    Which is trying to rise again; thou who didst give birth,
    While Nature marvelled how, to thy Holy Creator,
    Virgin both before and after, from Gabriel's mouth
    Accepting the All hail, be merciful towards sinners.

    I hope that helps!
  • Maureen
    Posts: 675
    Here's a couple from The Catholic Magazine, 1843. They're credited only to "one of the most gifted of our venerated clergy".

    Alma Redemptoris Mater

    Mother of Christ, on thee we call!
    Portal of Heaven, Star of the main,
    Guide thou our footsteps, lest we fall,
    And aid the fall'n to rise again.

    All nature stood aghast to see,
    O mystery ineffable!
    Thy Lord and Maker, born of Thee,
    To save lost man from sin and hell.

    Mother and Maid, we bid thee hail,
    The hail that came from Gabriel's tongue.
    Soothe then, sweet Queen, the sinner's wail,
    And reconcile him with thy Son.


    Ave Regina Caelorum

    Hail! Queen of Heaven, around whose throne,
    Angels and archangels bend,
    Mother of Him, whom mortals own,
    True light of light, God without end;

    Hail! purest Virgin, crowned with grace,
    Beautiful beyond compare,
    Pity man's frail and erring race,
    And for the suppliant pour thy prayer.
  • vincentuher
    Posts: 134
    I wonder who that would have been in 1843? Thank you, Maureen, for sharing them.
  • noel jones, aagonoel jones, aago
    Posts: 6,605
    Ineffable! Bishops (well, at least one of them) cringe.
  • Donnaswan
    Posts: 585
    Ineffable has always been one of my favorite words. Along with tintinnabulation and sussuration. Can't figure out how to work those two into a good hymn translation, however.

    Donna
  • Maureen
    Posts: 675
    Britt put me onto this guy Donahoe, who apparently decided to translate just about every Latin hymn he could find.

    From Early Christian Hymns by Daniel Joseph Donahoe, 1908:

    Ave Regina Coelorum

    Hail, thou Virgin Queen of Heaven,
    Mistress unto Angels given,
    Root of Jesse, golden portal,
    Whence was poured the light immortal.

    Holy Virgin, high in glory,
    Heaven and earth shall sing thy story,
    Heed us, mother, bowed before thee,
    Plead with Jesus, we implore thee.

    Alma Redemptoris Mater


    Mother of majesty,
    God's love adorning,
    Thou that hast oped for man
    Heaven's high door,
    Star of the ocean wave,
    Gate of the morning,
    Look on our wanderings,
    Thee we implore.

    Born without stain of sin,
    Formed for the Holy,
    Gabriel's Ave still
    Rises to thee.
    Virgin and Mother pure,
    Tender and lowly,
    Hear us and plead for us,
    Bowed at thy knee.
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen Heath
  • bonniebede
    Posts: 756
    Does anyone have tune for singing any of these English translations of Alma redemptoris mater, or hymn tune suggestions?
    Thanks
    Thanked by 1aria
  • Aristotle EsguerraAristotle Esguerra
    Posts: 1,185
    See also this thread.
    Thanked by 2bonniebede aria
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