Ave Maria, Virgo Serena
Motet adapted from a Sequence Hymn (c. 1100) for feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Church of the Advent
Lady Chapel Altar Centerpiece
by E. Thomann, ca. 1800.
   
Ave Maria, Gratia plena,
Dominus tecum, Virgo serena.
Ave, cuius Conceptio,
Solemni plena gaudio,
Caelestia, Terrestria,
Nova replet laetitia.
Ave, cuius Nativitas
Nostra fuit solemnitas,
Ut lucifer lux oriens
Verum solem praeveniens.
Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with thee, Virgin fair.
Hail, thou whose Conception,
Our feast of great joy,
Fills heaven and earth
With new gladness.
Hail, thou whose Nativity
Became our celebration;
Bright as the Morning Star
Thou precedest the true Sun.
   
Ave pia humilitas,
Sine viro fecunditas,
Cuius Annuntiatio
Nostra fuit salvatio.
Ave vera virginitas,
Immaculata castitas,
Cuius Purificatio
Nostra fuit purgatio.
Hail, blessed humility,
Inviolate fecundity,
Whose Annunciation
Became our salvation.
Hail, true virginity,
Immaculate chastity,
Whose Purification
Became our expiation.
   
Ave, praeclara omnibus
Angelicis virtutibus,
Cuius Assumptio
Nostra fuit glorificatio.
O Mater Dei,
Memento mei. Amen.
Hail, thou who shinest
With all angelic virtues,
Whose Assumption
Became our glorification.
O Mother of God,
Be mindful of me. Amen.

Performance of Ave Maria, Virgo Serena, Ludwig Senfl (1486-1542), by Ensemble Feria VI