Hail, Queen of Heaven, the Ocean Star / Ave Maris Stella

Guide Of The Wanderer Here Below

Hail Queen of Heaven, the Ocean Star is based on the Latin hymn, Ave Maris Stella. This Medieval plainchant has been traditionally used in the Roman Breviary at Vespers on Marian Feast Days. The Catholic Priest and historian, Fr. John Lingard (1771–1851) composed the hymn Hail Queen of Heaven, the Ocean Star based upon the ancient Latin text. It was first published in Easy Hymn Tunes for Catholic Schools (1851) and matched with the melody: Stella, a folk tune the editor had heard sung by children in the village of Stella, near Newcastle-Upon-Tyme. An alternative translation of Ave Maris Stella is: Praise to Mary, Heaven's Gate.


Tune: Stella

HAIL, QUEEN OF HEAVEN, THE OCEAN STAR by John Lingard, 1851 (Public Domain)

1. Hail, Queen of heaven, the ocean star,
Guide of the wanderer here below,
Thrown on life's surge, we claim thy care,
Save us from peril and from woe.
Mother of Christ, Star of the sea
Pray for the wanderer, pray for me.

2. O gentle, chaste, and spotless Maid,
We sinners make our prayers through thee;
Remind thy Son that He has paid
The price of our iniquity.
Virgin most pure, Star of the sea,
Pray for the sinner, pray for me.

3. Sojourners in this vale of tears,
Blest advocate, to thee we cry,
Assuage our sorrows, calm our fears,
And soothe with hope our misery. 
Refuge in grief, Star of the sea
Pray for the mourner, pray for me.

4. And while to Him Who reigns above
In Godhead one, in Persons three,
The Source of life, of grace, of love,
Homage we pay on bended knee:
Do thou, bright Queen, Star of the sea,
Pray for thy children, pray for me.


Gregorian (Sung by the Daughters of St. Paul)

AVE MARIS STELLA (Public Domain)

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

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

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

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

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

6. Vitam praesta puram,
iter para tutum:
ut videntes Iesum
semper collaetemur.

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