Salve Regina
Contents BVM
Hail Holy Queen
Numerous authors have been proposed for what is said to be the
most popular Marian antiphon; St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Adhemar
de Monteil, Bishop of Le Puy (ca 1080 AD), and Peter of
Compostela (930 AD). Herman Contractus, who wrote a number of
well known Marian pieces, is the author favored by current
scholarship. An interesting story exists describing its last three
invocations. The Chronicles of Spires tell us that the final three
invocations were added by St. Bernard (1091-1153). The hymn, so
the story goes, originally ended with the word ostende. However,
when St. Bernard was the Papal Legate in Germany, he heard the
hymn being sung in the Church of Spires, threw himself upon his
knees, and with a fit of sudden inspiration rang out with the words:
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria. These three invocations
have been repeated ever since and four stones in the Church mark
the place where the holy doctor knelt. Unfortunately for the story,
the lines appear in early manuscripts before this event was
supposed to have taken place.
What we do know for certain is that the Salve Regina was used as a
processional chant at Cluny by 1135. Around 1218 the Cistercians
adopted it as a daily processional chant and in 1251 as an ending to
Compline. Both the Dominicans and the Franciscans also adopted it
around this same time and the Carmelites used it for a while in
place of the last Gospel at Mass. Gregory IX (1227-1241) ordered it
to be chanted after Compline on Fridays. From the 14th century
down to today it has been a part of Compline for the Latin Rite.
Traditionally this antiphon is recited at Compline from Trinity
Sunday until Advent.
This hymn is said to be a favorite of our Lady herself by testimony
of those who have reportedly seen her in visions. One account
concerning this claim relates a vision St. Dominic had. He was
entering a corridor of the monastery to resume his midnight prayer
vigil when he chanced to raise his eyes and see three beautiful
ladies approach him. He knelt before the principle lady and she
blessed him. Even though St. Dominic recognized her, he begged
her to tell him her name. The lady replied: "I am she whom you
invoke every evening: and when you say, <<Eia ergo, advocata
nostra.>> I prostrate myself before my Son, entreating Him to
protect this Order." (From the Life of St. Dominic, Lacordaire).
Many writers have praised this hymn. St. Alphonsus comments
upon the Salve Regina extensively in his Glories of Mary, and
Father Taunton writes: "Its fragrance lingers over our soul when, at
the end of a long day, or at the end of any Hour, we place our
prayers in Mary's hands, that she, the pure and glorious one, may
offer them with all the power of a Mother's love to her God, to that
Son, the blessed Fruit of her womb. Our prayers coming through
her hands will be doubly acceptable to her Son, and we shall be the
sooner heard for the reverence He has for His Mother". It has also
been recorded that the Salve Regina was recited by Columbus' men
the evening before they sighted the New World the next morning.
Today this prayer is one of the final Marian Antiphons that
conclude Compline in the Divine Office and it is also used in
conjunction with the Rosary. A partial indulgence is granted to the
faithful who devoutly recite this prayer. The traditional collect,
which is not part of the prayer proper, is given below
SALVE, Regina, mater misericordiae, vita, HAIL holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life,
dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry,
exsules filii Hevae. Ad te suspiramus, gementes poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we
et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle. send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this
valley of tears.
Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of
oculos ad nos converte. Et Iesum, benedictum mercy toward us. And after this our exile show
fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
ostende.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria. Amen. Amen.
V. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genetrix. V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises
of Christ.
Oremus Let us pray
Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui gloriosae Almighty, everlasting God, who by the
Virginis Matris Mariae corpus et animam, ut cooperation of the Holy Spirit, didst prepare the
dignum Filii tui habitaculum effici mereretur, body and soul of the glorious Virgin-Mother
Spiritu Sancto cooperante, praeparasti: da, ut Mary to become a worthy dwelling for Thy Son;
cuius commemoratione laetamur; eius pia grant that we who rejoice in her commemoration
intercessione, ab instantibus malis, et a morte may, by her loving intercession, be delivered
perpetua liberemur. Per eundem Christum from present evils and from the everlasting death.
Dominum nostrum. Amen. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.
From the Roman Breviary.
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