Ave Maris Stella

Ave Maris Stella

Ave Maris Stella (“Hail Star of the Sea”) is a  plainsong hymn to the Virgin Mary used at Vespers or Evening Prayer. It  can be dated back at least to the eighth century.  The hymn’s origin is uncertain and it

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 has been attributed to several people, including Venantius Fortunatus. The melody is found in the Irish plainsong “Gabhaim Molta Bríde”, a piece in praise of St. Bridget. The 19th century hymn ‘Hail Queen of Heaven, the Ocean Star’ is loosely based on this plainsong original.  This setting is by John McQuaid, published in the St Andrew Hymnal..

 Ave, maris stella, Déi mater alma,
atque semper virgo, félix caeli porta.

Hail, star of the sea,
Nurturing Mother of God,
And ever Virgin
Happy gate of Heaven.

Sumens illud «Ave» Gabriélis ore,
funda nos in pace, mutans Evae nomen.

Receiving that “Ave” (hail)
From the mouth of Gabriel,
Establish us in peace,
Transforming the name of “Eva” (Eve).

Solve vincla reis, profer lumen caecis,
mala nostra pelle, bona cuncta posce.

Loosen the chains of the guilty,
Send forth light to the blind,
Our evil do thou dispel,
Entreat (for us) all good things.

Monstra te esse matrem, sumat per te precem
qui pro nobis natus tulit esse tuus.

Show thyself to be a Mother:
Through thee may he receive (our) prayer
Who, being born for us,
Undertook to be thine own (Son).

Virgo singuláris, inter omnes mitis,
nos culpis solútos mites fac et castos.

O unique Virgin,
Meek above all others,
Make us, set free from (our) sins,
Meek and chaste.

Vitam praesta puram, iter para tutum,
ut vidéntes Iesum semper collaetémur.

Bestow a pure life,
Prepare a safe way:
That seeing Jesus,
We may ever rejoice.
Sit laus Deo Patri, summo Christo decus,
Spirítui Sancto honor, tribus unus. Amen.[5]

Praise be to God the Father,
To the Most High Christ (be) glory,
To the Holy Spirit 
honor, to the Three equally. Amen.