Alma Redemptoris Mater in Latin & English
The “Alma Redemptoris Mater” is one of the four Marian antiphons sung throughout the liturgical year. It is sung at Compline on the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent to the second Vespers of the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The other three are the Ave Regina Caelorum (sung from Candlemas until Easter Vigil), the Regina Caeli (sung during liturgical Easter), and the Salve Regina (sung from first Vespers of Trinity Sunday until None of the Saturday before Advent).
Hermannus Contractus (also called Herman the Cripple; 1013–1054) is said to be the author of this wonderful hymn.
We stated elsewhere that the Salve Regina is the most popular Marion antiphon. Unfortunately, very few people know the Alma Redemptoris Mater.
This is your chance to learn it in Latin!
Alma Redemptoris Mater Lyrics in Latin
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.
During Advent
V. Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae.
R. Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.
Oremus
Gratiam tuam, quaesumus, Domine, mentibus nostris infunde: ut qui, Angelo nuntiante, Christi Filii tui incarnationem cognovimus; per passionem eius et crucem, ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
During Purification
V. Post partum, Virgo, inviolata permansisti.
R. Dei Genetrix, intercede pro nobis.
Oremus
Deus, qui salutis aeternae, beatae Mariae virginitate fecunda, humano generi praemia praestitisti: tribue, quaesumus; ut ipsam pro nobis intercedere sentiamus, per quam meruimus auctorem vitae suscipere, Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, Filium tuum. Amen.
Alma Redemptoris Mater Lyrics in English (Mother Benign of Our Redeeming Lord)
Mother of Christ, 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.
During Advent
V. The Angel of the Lord announced unto Mary.
R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit
Let us pray
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts: that as we have known the incarnation of Thy Son Jesus Christ by the message of an Angel, so too by His Cross and passion may we be brought to the glory of His resurrection. Amen.
During Purification
V. After childbirth thou didst remain a virgin.
R. Intercede for us, O Mother of God.
Let us pray
O God, who, by the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary, hast bestowed upon mankind the reward of eternal salvation: grant, we beseech Thee, that we may experience her intercession, through whom we have been made worthy to receive the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son. Amen.
Love Mary? Check Out These Resources
- Compendium of Marian Devotions: An Encyclopedia of the Church’s Prayers, Dogmas, Devotions, Sacramentals, and Feasts Honoring the Mother of God
- Crown of the Virgin
- The Glories of Mary by St Alphonsus Liguori
- Hail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God by Scott Hahn
- The Five First Saturdays and Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
- The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich
- The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Manual for Marian Devotion by the Dominican Sisters of Mary
- Marian Consecration for Children: Bringing Mary to Life in Young Hearts and Minds
- Mary, the Church at the Source by Hans Urs von Balthasar & Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
- Mary’s Immaculate Heart: The Meaning Of The Devotion To The Immaculate Heart Of Mary
- The Secret of the Rosary
- Theotokos – A Theological Encyclopedia of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- True Devotion to Mary: with Preparation for Total Consecration (St Louis de Montfort:
- The World’s First Love by Bishop Fulton Sheen
Learn to Sing the Alma Redemptoris Mater
What’s next? Learn the Ave Regina Caelorum
