Alma Redemptoris Mater (pronounced Áhlmah Raydėmptoris Máhtair) or, in English, "Loving Mother of our Savior," is a Marian hymn and one of four liturgical Marian antiphons (the other three being: Ave Regina caelorum, Regina coeli and Salve Regina), and sung at the end of the office of Compline. Hermannus Contractus (Herman the Cripple) (1013–1054) is said to have authored the hymn based on the writings of Ss. Fulgentius, Epiphanius, and Irenaeus of Lyon.It is mentioned in "The Prioress's Tale", one of Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Formerly it was recited at compline only from the first Sunday in Advent until the Feast of the Purification (February 2).
- Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli
- Porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti,
- Surgere qui curat, populo: tu quae genuisti,
- Natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem
- Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore
- Sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.
- V. Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae
- R. Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.
- Gratiam tuam quæsumus, Domine, mentibus nostris infunde; ut qui, angelo nuntiante, Christi Filii tui Incarnationem cognovimus, per passionem ejus et crucem, ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur.
- Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
- V. Post Partum Virgo inviolata permansisti.
- R. Dei Genitrix, intercede pro nobis.
- Deus, qui salutis aeternae beatae Mariae virginitate foecunda humano generi praemia praestitisti: tribue, quaesumus, ut ipsam pro nobis intercedere sentiamus, per quam meruimus, Auctorem vitae suscipere Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum. Amen.
English
- Loving Mother of our Savior, hear thou thy people's cry
- Star of the deep and Portal of the sky!
- Mother of Him who thee made from nothing made.
- Sinking we strive and call to thee for aid:
- Oh, by what joy which Gabriel brought to thee,
- Thou Virgin first and last, let us thy mercy see.
- V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary
- R. And she conceived by the Holy Ghost.
- Pour forth we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may, by His passion and cross, be brought to the glory of his Resurrection; through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.
- V. After childbirth, O Virgin, thou didst remain inviolate.
- R. O Mother of God, plead for us.
- O God, Who by the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary, hast given to mankind the rewards of eternal salvation: grant, we beseech You, that we may experience her intercession for us, by whom we deserved to receive the Author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son. Amen
