Musical Offering: The Alma Redemptoris Mater, in Three Versions
There are various antiphons sung in honour of Our Lady at the close of Compline, for each liturgical season – the Salve Regina for ‘Ordinary Time’; the Ave Regina Coelorum for Lent, the Regina Coeli for Easter, and the one for Advent and Christmas is the Alma Redemptoris Mater – a beautiful hymn to Our Lady as the ‘nourishing Mother’ of us all. I hope readers have had some opportunity during this time of preparation to hear, and even sing, this beautiful song of praise to the Virgin Mother of God. So, here, on this final Saturday of Advent, are three versions.
First, the original Latin words:
Alma Redemptóris Mater, quæ pérvia cæli
Porta manes, et stella maris, succúrre cadénti,
Súrgere qui curat pópulo: tu quæ genuísti,
Natúra miránte, tuum sanctum Genitórem
Virgo prius ac postérius, Gabriélis ab ore
Sumens illud Ave, peccatórum miserére
And in English translation:
Loving Mother of the Redeemer,
who remains the accessible Gateway of Heaven,
and Star of the Sea,
Give aid to a falling people
that strives to rise;
O Thou who begot thy holy Creator,
while all nature marvelled,
Virgin before and after
receiving that “Ave” from the mouth of Gabriel,
have mercy on sinners.
Here is the Gregorian chant version:
And set to polyphony by Palestrina, first published in 1587:
And, finally for now, one by fellow practitioner of the ars perfecta, Victoria, first published in 1687:
Ora pro nobis, Sancta Dei Genetrix! Dominus prope est!
A Closed, Unsustainable, Descending Loop
As a follow-up to my thoughts on Payette’s payout, here be a stark image of where are here in Canada. As the graph shows in, well, graphic terms, since 2025, the public sector has contributed to 95.5% of economic growth. The private sector – which funds the public sector, or is supposed to – has[…]Continue reading→
Remembering Father Alphonse de Valk
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Presidential Pardon of Weronika Krawczyk
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Divine Mercy Sunday – An Echo of Every Mass
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Pope Leo and a Rosary for Peace
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Payette’s Payout
I was glancing through some headlines, and noticed a mention of Julie Payette – engineer and astronaut and sometime the Queen’s representative in Canada – which brought back vague memories. She was appointed Governor-General by Justin Trudeau in 2017. Ms. Payette resigned in 2021, amidst claims that she created a ‘toxic work environment’, with allegations[…]Continue reading→
Saint Stanislaus of Szczepanów
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First Holy Communion: Sermon from May 16, 1943
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Weronika Krawczyk and Injustice in Poland
Catholic Action in Poland has issued a formal statement appealing to the President of the Republic of Poland to pardon Weronika Krawczyk—convicted for warning other women against an abortion-performing gynaecologist. Catholic Action (AK) emphasizes that no apology is owed to a doctor who has performed numerous abortions and proposed others; furthermore, the organization considers the[…]Continue reading→
Three Easter Musical Gems: Bach, Palestrina and Byrd
A very blessed and glorious Easter! Christus surrexit vere, alleluia! As we begin this Easter Octave with the great Solemnity of Easter, music to lift the soul would be one of Bach’s Easter cantatas, composed during his time at Leipzig in the early 1700’s, for the six Sundays of this festive season, leading up to[…]Continue reading→