THE REGINA Caeli, or Queen of Heaven Prayer, is a traditional Catholic celebratory prayer that commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The prayer is the Easter antiphon, or short chant, which the Catholic Church includes in its liturgy during the Easter season (From Easter Sunday until Pentecost). The prayer’s author is unknown, although we can trace its use back to the 12th century by Franciscan monks.
The Queen of Heaven prayer is traditionally said or sung after the night prayer during easter, before going to sleep. The prayer also replaces the Angelus prayer during Easter, being prayed at 6 am, 12 pm, and 6 pm. The Regina invites us to celebrate and rejoice in union with Mary and the Church over the Lord’s resurrection. The prayer then leads us to ask God to grant us everlasting life with the help of the intercession of the Virgin Mary.
Below I am including the prayer as taught by the Catholic Church and a video of it being sung by Gregorian Monks:
Queen of Heaven
V. Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
R. For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.
V. Has risen, as he said, alleluia.
R. Pray for us to God, alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.
Let us pray:
O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ, our Lord.
Amen
Note:
V. stands for Verse, and R. stands for Responsorial.
