Catholic Activity: Marian Hymn: Salve Regina

Words to a beautiful hymn to Mary that can be sung for all her feast days. The text is by Hermann the Cripple, 1013-1054, monk of Reichenau; melody fifth (Lydian) mode.

DIRECTIONS

Hail, Queen most noble,
Hail Thou Mother most merciful,
Thou life's true sweetness,
Thou our hope, we greet Thee.
To Thee we're crying,
from paradise banished children.
To Thee we come weeping,
sorrowing and sighing in this dark and tearful valley.
Ah, turn Thine eyes, Advocate, in mercy,
Turn in loving and kind compassion
These Thine eyes upon us sinners.
And Jesus, the blessed fruit of Thy virginal womb,
Show unto us when our exile is ended.
Thou'rt clement, Thou'rt loving,
Thou art sweet, O Virgin Mary.

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

Activity Source: Around the Year with the Trapp Family by Maria Augusta Trapp, Pantheon Books Inc., New York, New York, 1955