Monday, April 1, 2013

Regina Caeli

V. Gaude et lætare, Virgo Maria, alleluia.
R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.
Oremus.
Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui, Domini nostri Iesu Christi,
mundum lætificare dignatus es:
præsta, quæsumus, ut per eius Genitricem Virginem Mariam,
perpetuæ capiamus gaudia vitæ.
Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.


From Joseph Connelly Hymns of the Roman Liturgy:

Author. Unknown. It is thought to be an adaptation of the Christmas antiphon: Maria Virgo semper laetare, quae meruisti Christum portare, caeli et terrae conditorem, quia de tuo utero protulisti mundi salvatorem. According to the famous Jesuit hymnologist Blume, the earliest copy of the Regina is in an antiphonary in the Vatican Library, whose date is between II70 and the early years of the next century and in which it occurs as an antiphon of the ordinary paschal Vespers. At the present day it still figures in the Breviary as an antiphon, in the Little Office of our Lady..It was used by the Franciscans as one of the seasonal antiphons as early as 1249. Its use as a substitute for the Angelus dates from Benedict XIV in 1743. The supposed connection of the Regina with St Gregory is a myth. (Cf. Thurston, Familiar Prayers, pp. 146-51). Use. During the Paschal season. 


The Latin and the chant are easy but there are metrical Latin-English versions under the title: Regina caeli jubila:



O Queen of heaven, be joyful: alleluia.
For He whom so meetly thou bearest: alleluia.
Hath arisen, as He promised: alleluia.
Pray for us to Father: alleluia.

V. Rejoice and glad, O Virgin Mary: alleluia:
R. For the Lord is risen indeed: alleluia.

Let us pray.

O God, who by the resurrection of thy Son Jesus Christ, didst vouchsafe to give gladness unto the world: grant,  we beseech thee, that we being holpen by the Virgin Mary, His Mother, may attain unto the joys of everlasting life. through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

In place of the Angelus:

New use: until 1 Vespers of Pentecost.
Usus antiquior: until 1 Vespers of Trinity Sunday.
 

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