Ave maris stella

General information

Hymn to the Virgin Mary (8th cent., author anon.)

Liturgical use: Hymn at Vespers on feasts of the Virgin Mary.

Latin:

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

Sumens illud Ave
Gabrielis ore,
Funda nos in pace,
Mutans Evae 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 praesta puram,
Iter para tutum,
Ut videntes Jesum,
Semper collaetemur.

Sit laus Deo Patri,
Summo Christo decus
Spiritui Sancto,
Tribus honor unus. Amen.

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

Sumens illud Ave Gabrielis ore, Funda nos in pace, Mutans Evae 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 praesta puram, Iter para tutum, Ut videntes Jesum, Semper collaetemur.

Sit laus Deo Patri, Summo Christo decus Spiritui Sancto, Tribus honor unus. Amen.

Hail, star of the sea, loving Mother of God, and also always a virgin, Happy gate of heaven.

Receiving that Ave from Gabriel's mouth confirm us in peace, Reversing Eva's name.

Break the chains of sinners, Bring light to the blind, Drive away our evils, Ask for all good.

Show yourself to be a mother, May he accept prayers through you, he who, born for us, Chose to be yours.

O unique virgin, Meek above all, Make us, absolved from sin, Gentle and chaste.

Keep life pure, Make the journey safe, So that, seeing Jesus, We may always rejoice together.

Let there be praise to God the Father, Glory to Christ in the highest, To the Holy Spirit, One honor to all three. Amen.

(English translation by Allen H Simon)

1. Sei gegrüßt, du Stern des Meeres, gütige Mutter Gottes, ewige Jungfrau, sel'ge Himmelspforte.

2. Die du das Ave empfängst aus Gabriels Mund gib uns des Friedens Geist, kehre Evas Namen um.

3. Löse aus Banden die Sünder, erleuchte die Blinden, unsere Gebrechen nimm hinweg, alles Gute erwirke für uns.

4. Erzeige dich als Mutter, durch dich empfange unser Gebet, der um unseretwillen dein Sohn wurde.

5. Jungfrau, auserkoren, mild vor allen, mach uns, von Sünden frei, mild und keusch.

6. Gib ein reines Leben, beschütze unsern Weg, daß wir einst Jesus sehen und uns allezeit freuen.

7. Lob sei Gott, dem Vater, Ehre sei Christus, dem Allerhöchsten, und dem Heiligen Geist, ein Lobpreis sei den dreien Amen.