Ave Maris Stella

A centuries-old hymn – even multi-centuries old – whose author is not precisely known (Venance Fortunat in the 6th century or Paul the Deacon in the 8th century), but it is venerable due to its liturgical use for Vespers of the Blessed Virgin.

The hymn is composed of seven stanzas of 24 light syllables, blending liturgical invocations with familiar supplications.

You can listen to Ave Maris Stella sung in the choir of Notre-Dame here:

Text of the hymn Ave Maris Stella in English

Hail bright star of ocean,
God’s own Mother blest,
Ever sinless Virgin,
Gate of heavenly rest.

Taking that sweet Ave
Which from Gabriel came,
Peace confirm within us,
Changing Eva’s name.

Break the captives’ fetters,
Light on blindness pour,
All our ills expelling,
Every bliss implore.

Show thyself a Mother;
May the Word Divine,
Born for us thy Infant,
Hear our prayers through thine.

Virgin all excelling,
Mildest of the mild,
Freed from guilt, preserve us,
Pure and undefiled.

Keep our life all spotless,
Make our way secure,
Till we find in Jesus
Joy for evermore.

Through the highest heaven
To the Almighty Three
Father, Son, and Sprit
One same glory be,
Amen!

Text of the hymn Ave Maris Stella in Latin

Ave, maris stella,
Dei Mater alma.
Atque semper Virgo,
felix caeli porta.

Sumens illud Ave
Gabrielis ore,
Funda nos in pace,
mutans Hevae nomen.

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

Monstra te esse matrem :
Sumat per te preces,
qui pro nobis natus
tulit esse tuus.

Virgo singularis,
inter omnes mitis,
nos culpis solutos
mites fac et castos.

Vitam presta puram,
iter para tutum,
ut videntes Jesum,
semper collaetemur

Sit laus Deo Patri,
summo Christo decus,
Spiritui Sancto,
tribus honor unus.
Amen.

Imprimer