Salve Regina
Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae:
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus, exsules, filii Hevae.
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia ergo, Advocata nostra,
illos tuos misericordes oculos
ad nos converte.
Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis, post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens: O pia: O dulcis
Virgo Maria.
Click here for an English translation.
This Marian hymn is sung after Compline for most of the Liturgical year. When it is not sung, another Marian hymn more in tune with the season is sung instead. The Church prizes devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary so highly, and deems it so necessary, that she requires it of all her priests and religious.
This hymn is actually a very common prayer: the Hail Holy Queen, recited at the end of the holy Rosary. This is in the top 5 Catholic prayers as far as general familiarity and frequency of use are concerned.
There are two chant versions of this prayer: the solemn version, sung on Sundays and feast days, and the simple version. The solemn version is longer, but they are both beautiful.
This is found on the following CD(s):
Chant Compendium 2 and Chant Compendium 8.
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