DIVINUM OFFICIUM Marian Antiphon

Alma Redemptoris Mater (Complete)

From First Vespers of Advent (Saturday before Advent I) to February 1 inclusive. Two verse/prayer variants: before and after Christmas.

Alma Redemptoris Mater ('Loving Mother of the Redeemer') is one of the four great Marian antiphons sung at the conclusion of Compline. It is proper to the season from the First Sunday of Advent through February 1 (the eve of Candlemas). This 11th-century antiphon, attributed to Herman of Reichenau (Hermannus Contractus), invokes Mary as the 'gate of heaven' (porta caeli) and 'star of the sea' (stella maris). The text petitions her intercession for sinners seeking to rise from their falls, and recalls her miraculous virginity - Mother of her Creator, yet ever-Virgin.

LATINE
Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli Porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti, Surgere qui curat, populo: tu quae genuisti, Natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem, Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore Sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.
Usque ad diem 23 decembris:
V. Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae. R. Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.
Oremus. Gratiam tuam, quaesumus, Domine, mentibus nostris infunde: ut qui, Angelo nuntiante, Christi Filii tui incarnationem cognovimus, per passionem ejus et crucem ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
A die 24 decembris:
V. Post partum, Virgo, inviolata permansisti. R. Dei Genitrix, intercede pro nobis.
Oremus. Deus, qui salutis aeternae, beatae Mariae virginitate foecunda, humano generi praemia praestitisti: tribue, quaesumus; ut ipsam pro nobis intercedere sentiamus, per quam meruimus auctorem vitae suscipere, Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum Filium tuum. Amen.
ENGLISH
Loving Mother of the Redeemer, gate of heaven, star of the sea, assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise again. To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator, yet remained a virgin after as before. You who received Gabriel's joyful greeting, have pity on us poor sinners.
Until 23 December:
V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary. R. And she conceived of the Holy Ghost.
Let us pray. Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts: that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
From 24 December:
V. After thy delivery thou still remainest a Virgin undefiled. R. Mother of God, intercede for us.
Let us pray. O God, who through the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary hast given to mankind the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beseech thee, that we may experience her intercession through whom we received the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son. Amen.
NOTA
FONS
Breviarium Romanum (1962)
USUS
From First Vespers of Advent (Saturday before Advent I) to February 1 inclusive. Two verse/prayer variants: before and after Christmas.
HORA
Compline
TEMPVS
marian_advent
GENVS
Marian Antiphon
AVCTOR
Attributed to Herman of Reichenau (1013-1054)