Ave Maris Stella
Tympanum decoration in the chapter room with the cathedral chapter coat of arms.
Based on Viollet-le-Duc’s drawings, 19th century. © NDP
Ave Maris Stella is a plainsong Vespers hymn to the Virgin Mary. It is of uncertain origin and can be dated back at least as far as the VIII century. The creation of the original hymn has been attributed to several people, including Saint Venantius Fortunatus (VI century) or Paul Diacre (VIII century).
Seven stanzas of 24 short syllables that combine the invocations of litany with common supplications.
Click here to listen to Ave Maris Stella sung in the Notre-Dame choir.
Ave, maris stella,
Dei Mater alma.
Atque semper Virgo,
felix caeli porta.
- Hail, star of the sea,
- Nurturing Mother of God,
- And ever Virgin
- Happy gate of Heaven.
Sumens illud Ave
Gabrielis ore,
Funda nos in pace,
mutans Hevae nomen.
- Receiving that Ave
- From the mouth of Gabriel,
- Establish us in peace,
- Transforming the name of Eve.
Solve vincla reis,
profer lumen caecis,
Mala nostra pelle,
bona cuncta posce.
- Loosen the chains of the guilty,
- Send forth light to the blind,
- Our evil do thou dispel,
- Entreat for us all good things.
Monstra te esse matrem :
Sumat per te preces,
qui pro nobis natus
tulit esse tuus.
- Show thyself to be a Mother:
- Through thee may he receive our prayer
- Who, being born for us,
- Undertook to be thine own Son.
Virgo singularis,
inter omnes mitis,
nos culpis solutos
mites fac et castos.
- O unique Virgin,
- Meek above all others,
- Make us, set free from our sins,
- Meek and chaste.
Vitam presta puram,
iter para tutum,
ut videntes Jesum,
semper collaetemur
- Bestow a pure life,
- Prepare a safe way:
- That seeing Jesus,
- We may ever rejoice.
Sit laus Deo Patri,
summo Christo decus,
Spiritui Sancto,
tribus honor unus.
Amen.
- Praise be to God the Father,
- To the Most High Christ glory,
- To the Holy Spirit
- Honor, to the Three equally. Amen.
