Lájos Bardos
Ave maris stella,
dei mater alma,
atque semper virgo,
felix celi porta.
Sumens illud ave
Gabrielis ore,
funda nos in pace
mutans Eve nomen.
Solva vincla reis,
profer lumen caecis,
mala nostra pelle,
bona cunctis posce.
Virgo singularis,
inter omnes mitis,
nos culpis solutos
mites fac et castos.
Vitam presta puram,
iter para tutum,
ut videntes Jesum
semper colletemur.
Sit laus Deo patri,
summo Christo decus,
Spiritui Sancto
trinus honor unus. Amen.
Hail, star of the sea,
nurturing mother of God,
and perpetual virgin,
happy gate of heaven.
Receiving that “Ave”
from the mouth of Gabriel,
give us peace in abundance,
reversing the name “Eva.”
Loose the chains of the guilty,
bring light to the blind,
drive out our evils,
seek blessings for all.
Peerless virgin,
gentle above all others,
when we are freed from sins,
make us gentle and chaste.
Grant us a pure life,
prepare us a secure way,
that, seeing Jesus,
we may rejoice forever.
Praise be to God the Father,
honor to Christ the most high,
and to the Holy Spirit
triple honor in one. Amen.
9th century Marian hymn
©Scott Metcalfe