THE SALVE Regina, or Hail Holy Queen Prayer, is one of the four main Marian Antiphons of the Catholic Church. Probably the most well know of the hymns due to its traditional use after praying the Rosary. Its author is uncertain, although we can trace its use back to the 11th century within monasteries.
The hymn is traditionally said or sung after night prayer before going to sleep. Its season for recitation is after Easter until the beginning of Advent. The Church also grants a partial indulgence to those who devoutly recite this prayer. The Hail Holy Queen invites us to placer ourselves and our prayers in the hands of Mary, so that she may then offer them up to God. The prayer also honor’s Mary’s position as Jesus’ mother and asks God that through her intercession, we may be delivered from evil and eternal death.
I am confident that the devout recitation of this prayer after praying the Rosary, and before going to sleep, will be of great help to anyone along their Road to Righteousness.
Following, I include the prayer as taught by the Catholic Church and a video of it sung by monks from the Abbey of Notre Dame.
Hail, Holy Queen
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
Almighty and everlasting God, Who by the working of the Holy Spirit didst prepare both body and soul of the glorious Virgin Mother, Mary, that she might deserve to be made a worthy dwelling for Thy Son, grant that we who rejoice in her memory, may, by her loving intercession, be delivered from present evils and from lasting death, through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen
Note:
V. stands for Verse, and R. stands for Responsorial.
