Hail Queen of Heaven, Beyond Compare / Ave Regina Caelorum

To Whom the Angels, Homage Pay

Hail Queen of Heaven, Beyond Compare is a translation by the Benedictine Nuns of Stanbrook Abbey of the 12th century Latin hymn, Ave Regina Caelorum which has been traditionally sung as a Marian Antiphon after Compline in the Roman Breviary; used from the Feast of the Presentation (Feb. 2) to the Wednesday of Holy Week. The Collect, or Prayer (included below) that is associated with the hymn was said by St. Jerome (c.347-420) to have originated with St. Ephrem the Syrian (c.306-373). The text to Hail Queen of Heaven, Beyond Compare can be found here (then scroll to the bottom of the linked page). In the Divine Office and the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Antiphon is sung or recited at the conclusion of Night Prayer.


Gregorian Chant

AVE, REGINA CAELORUM (Public Domain)

Ave, Regina Caelorum,
Ave, Domina Angelorum:
Salve, radix, salve, porta
Ex qua mundo lux est orta:

Gaude, Virgo gloriosa,
Super omnes speciosa,
Vale, o valde decora,
 Et pro nobis Christum exora.

V. Dignare me laudare te, Virgo sacrata.
R. Da mihi virtutem contra hostes tuos.

Oremus: Concede, misericors Deus, fragilitati nostrae praesidium: ut, qui sanctae Dei Genitricis memoriam agimus; intercessionis eius auxilio, a nostris iniquitatibus resurgamus. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.