THE HYMN ‘Ave Maris Stella’
‘Ave Maris Stella’ is a plain song vespers hymn to Mary. It was especially popular in the Middle Ages and has been used by many composers as the basis of other compositions.
The creation of the original hymn has been attributed to several people, including St. Venantius Fortunatus (6th century), Hermannus Contractus (11th c.) and St Bernard of Clairvaux (12th c.). The text is found in a 9th century manuscript in the Abbey of St. Gall. The melody is found in the Irish plainsong ‘Gabhaim Molta Bride’, a piece in praise of St. Bridget.
The popular modern hymn ‘Hail, Queen of Heaven, the Ocean Star’ is loosely based on this plainsong original. It was written by Fr. John Lingard (1771-1851). It finds particular prominence in the ‘Way of Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary’, by St. Louis Grignion de Montfort. The Roman Rite employs four different plainchant tunes for the Ave Maris Stella.
The hymn is also translated from Latin to Konkani by Fr. Vasco do Rego, S.J., and set to tune by Fr. Francisco Miranda. It is included our Archdiocesan hymnal ‘Gaionancho Jhelo’. The hymn is commonly in the ‘Salve’ during novenas in many parishes.
Ave, Maris Stella
- Ave, maris stella,
Dei mater alma,
atque semper virgo,
felix cœli porta.
- Sumens illud Ave
Gabrielis ore,
funda nos in pace,
mutans Evæ nomen.
- Solve vincla reis,
profer lumen cæcis,
mala nostra pelle,
bona cuncta posce.
- Monstra te esse matrem,
sumat per te precem
qui pro nobis natus
tulit esse tuus.
- Virgo singularis,
inter omnes mitis,
nos culpis solutos
mites fac et castos.
- Vitam præsta puram,
iter para tutum,
ut videntes Jesum
semper collætemur.
- Sit laus Deo Patri,
summo Christo decus,
Spiritui Sancto
honor, tribus unus. Amen.
Hail, Star of the Sea
- Hail, star of the sea,
Nurturing Mother of God,
And ever Virgin
Happy gate of Heaven.
- Receiving that “Ave”
From the mouth of Gabriel,
Establish us in peace,
Transforming the name of “Eva”.
- Loosen the chains of the guilty,
Send forth light to the blind,
Our evil do thou dispel,
Entreat (for us) all good things.
- Show thyself to be a Mother:
Through thee may he receive prayer
Who, being born for us,
Undertook to be thine own.
- O unique Virgin,
Meek above all others,
Make us, set free from (our) sins,
Meek and chaste.
- Bestow a pure life,
Prepare a safe way:
That seeing Jesus,
We may ever rejoice.
- Praise be to God the Father,
To the Most High Christ (be) glory,
To the Holy Spirit
(Be) honour, to the Three equally. Amen.
Doriachea Tara, Noman
-
Doriachea Tara, noman,
Devak poslôlê Maiê,
Ankvari sodanch Ankvar,
Sorginchea Dara, noman!
-
‘Tum ostriam bhitor sodoiv’:
Gabriel noman korta.
Evechem kaddun odruxtt,
Amkam kor, Maie, sodoiv.
-
Papiancheô tôddgê sanklliô,
Kurddeanche dolle ugôdd,
Vaitt-vignam amchim pois kôr,
Magun ghe vostu boreô.
-
Amchi Mai mhonnon dakhoi,
Jezuk mag amche khatir;
Monis zaun amche pasot,
To-i Tuka mhonnta Avoi.
-
Soglleam-von oprub Ankvar
Soglleam-von dulôb gê Tum:
Amkam-i kôr dulôb, nirmoll,
Patkantlim amkam nivar.
-
Jinn amchi nirmôll zaum-di,
Nitt rostear amkam samball,
Jezu-xim amkam pavoun,
Sodankal bhagi zaum-di.
-
Sorginchea Deva Bapak,
Bhov vortea Puta Jezuk,
Borobor Povitr Atmeak,
Somsarko bhovman sasnnak!
Hail, Queen of Heaven
Hail, Queen of heaven, the ocean star,
Guide of the wanderer here below,
Thrown on life’s surge, we claim thy care,
Save us from peril and from woe.
Mother of Christ, Star of the sea,
Pray for the wanderer, pray for me.
O gentle, chaste, and spotless Maid,
We sinners make our prayers through thee;
Remind thy Son that He has paid
The price of our iniquity.
Virgin most pure, Star of the sea,
Pray for the sinner, pray for me.
And while to Him Who reigns above
In Godhead one, in Persons three,
The Source of life, of grace, of love,
Homage we pay on bended knee:
Do thou, bright Queen, Star of the sea,
Pray for thy children, pray for me.