ALMA REDEMPTÓRIS MÁTER | MOTHER BENIGN OF OUR REDEEMING LORD
HONOR THE SON IN THE MOTHER AND THE COMING OF THE DIVINE WORD IN THE FLESH
About This Prayer
The Alma Redemptoris Mater (Mother Benign of Our Redeeming Lord) is one of the four seasonal Marian antiphons of the Liturgy of the Hours. It is prayed from the First Sunday of Advent through February 2 (Presentation of the Lord). Attributed to Blessed Herman of Reichenau in the 11th century, it honors Mary as the Mother of the Redeemer.
Pray Daily from 25-December, Nativity of Our Lord, until 2-February, the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary
ALMA REDEMPTÓRIS MÁTER
Alma Redemptóris Máter, quæ pérvia cǽli Porta manes, et stella maris, succúrre cadénti, Súrgere qui curat, pópulo: tu quæ genuísti, Natúra miránte, túum sánctum Genitórem: Virgo prius ac postérius, Gabriélis ab ore Sumens illud Áve, peccatórum miserére. A Dominica Prima Adventus usque ad Vigilia Nativitatis Domini V. Ángelus Dómini nuntiávit Maríæ. R. Et concépit de Spíritu Sáncto. Oremus Grátiam tuam quáesumus, Dómine, méntibus nostris infúnde; ut qui, ángelo nuntiánte, Christi Fílii tui Incarnatiónem cognóvimus, per passiónem ejus et crucem, ad resurrectiónis glóriam perducámur. Per eúmdem Christum Dóminum nóstrum. Amen. A Primis Vesperis Natalis Domini usque ad Praesentationem Domini V. Post Partum Virgo invioláta permansísti. [TTS: "Post Partum Virgo invioláta permansísti. Dei Génitrix, intercéde pro nóbis."] R. Dei Génitrix, intercéde pro nóbis. Oremus Deus, qui salútis ætérnæ beátæ Maríæ virginitáte fecúnda humáno géneri práemia præstitísti: tríbue, quáesumus, ut ipsam pro nóbis intercédere sentiámus, per quam merúimus, Auctórem vitæ suscípere Dóminum nóstrum Iesum Christum Fílium tuum. Amen.
MOTHER BENIGN OF OUR REDEEMING LORD
Loving Mother of the Redeemer, who remains the open 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 marveled, Virgin before and after receiving that Ave from the mouth of Gabriel, have mercy on us sinners. From the first Sunday of Advent until Christmas Eve V. The Angel of the Lord brought tidings unto Mary. R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit. 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 First Vespers of Christmas until the Presentation V. After childbirth, O Virgin, thou didst remain inviolate. R. Intercede for us, O Mother of God. Let us Pray O God, Who by 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 for us, through whom we deserved to receive the Author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son. Amen.
Related Prayers
Common Questions
When is the Alma Redemptoris Mater prayed?
The Alma Redemptoris Mater is the Marian antiphon of Advent and Christmastide, prayed from the First Sunday of Advent through February 2 (the Presentation of the Lord, also called Candlemas). During this season it is sung at Compline (Night Prayer) in the Liturgy of the Hours, and it may be prayed privately at any time, especially in the silent watches before Christmas.
What does the text of the Alma Redemptoris Mater say?
The Alma Redemptoris Mater (Loving Mother of the Redeemer) addresses Mary as the gate of heaven, the Star of the Sea (Stella Maris), and the helper of the falling. It rejoices that she received from Gabriel's lips the angelic salutation, conceiving her Creator in wonder, and remained a Virgin both before and after giving birth. It then asks her to have mercy on sinners, in language that beautifully prepares the heart for the coming of Christ.
Where does this antiphon come from?
The Alma Redemptoris Mater is traditionally attributed to Blessed Hermann of Reichenau (A.D. 1013-1054), a Benedictine monk and learned scholar of the Reichenau Abbey in southern Germany who, despite severe physical disabilities from birth, composed several beloved Marian hymns. By the 13th century the antiphon had been adopted throughout the Western Church, and Geoffrey Chaucer mentions it by name in The Canterbury Tales. It remains one of the most musically beloved compositions in the Latin tradition.
How does this antiphon fit with the four seasonal Marian antiphons?
The Alma Redemptoris Mater is one of four great Marian antiphons sung at Compline (Night Prayer) in the Liturgy of the Hours, each assigned to a particular liturgical season. The Alma Redemptoris Mater is sung from the First Sunday of Advent through February 2; the Ave Regina Caelorum from February 2 through Wednesday of Holy Week; the Regina Caeli throughout the Easter season; and the Salve Regina from after Pentecost through the start of Advent. Together these four antiphons consecrate every season of the Church year to the Mother of God.