The Regina Coeli Prayer in Latin & English

The Regina Coeli, sometimes spelled, Regina Caeli, is one out of four Marian antiphons that is chanted during Eastertide. It dates back to the 13th Century.

The other three Marian antiphons are the Ave Regina Caelorum (from the Presentation of the Lord /The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, through Wednesday of Holy Week), the Salve Regina (from Trinity Sunday until the Saturday before Advent), and the Alma Redemptoris Mater (Advent through February 2).

Some Traditional Catholic parishes pray it after Mass during Eastertide.

The Regina Coeli also replaces the “Angelus” during the Easter season.

What does Regina Coeli Mean?

Regina Coeli is latin for “Queen of Heaven.” See the full prayer below.

Why is Mary Called the Queen of Heaven?

In Pope Pius XII’s encylical, Ad Caeli Reginam (On the Queenship of Mary), he says that the belief that the Blessed Virgin is the queen of heaven, is a very old belief. He also said:

“From the earliest ages of the catholic church a Christian people, whether in time of triumph or more especially in time of crisis, has addressed prayers of petition and hymns of praise and veneration to the Queen of Heaven. And never has that hope wavered which they placed in the Mother of the Divine King, Jesus Christ; nor has that faith ever failed by which we are taught that Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, reigns with a mother’s solicitude over the entire world, just as she is crowned in heavenly blessedness with the glory of a Queen.”

Crown of the Virgin: An Ancient Meditation on Mary’s Beauty, Virtue, and Sanctity

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The Regina Coeli Lyrics in Latin

V. Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia.
R. Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia.
V. Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia.
R. Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

V. Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, alleluia.
R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.

Oremus.

Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui, Domini nostri Iesu Christi, mundum laetificare dignatus es: praesta, quaesumus; ut per eius Genetricem Virginem Mariam, perpetuae capiamus gaudia vitae. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum.

Amen.

Queen of Heaven with Child Jesus Garden Statue-18.5″

The Regina Coeli Prayer (Queen of Heaven ) in English

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.

Marian Resources

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• True Devotion to Mary: with Preparation for Total Consecration (Tan Classics)
• The Secret of the Rosary (Imitation Leather)
• The Secret of the Rosary (paperback)
• The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary From the Visions of Ven. Anne Catherine Emmerich
• The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Bonded Leather)

Learn to Chant the Regina Coeli in Latin

If you want to learn to chant the Regina Coeli latin prayer, check out the video below.

The Regina Coeli by Palestrina

If you’re looking for a beautiful polyphonic version, check out the Regina Coeli (in Latin) by Palestrina

This article was originally published in 2015, but updated in 2023.