Regina Caeli (Queen of Heaven)

This Marian prayer is one of the four seasonal Marian antiphons.

The author is unknown, but used of the prayer/hymn has been noted in the twelfth century. Tradition says that St Gregory the Great heard angels chanting the first three lines one Easter morning and was inspired to add the fourth line.

It has been set to music by various composers - including Brahams, Mozart and others.

Downloads

PowerPoint slides
in Latin with picture

PowerPoint slides
in Latin, plain

PowerPoint slides
in English with picture

PowerPoint slides
in English, plain

Picture:   La Purisima Inmaculada Concepcion de Maria

Words (full text) of the prayer

Regina cæli, lætare, alleluia:
R. Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia,

Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia,
R. Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

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 eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen.

English translation

Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
The Son whom you merited to bear, alleluia.
Has risen, as He said, alleluia.
Pray for us to God, alleluia.

V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray.
O God, who through the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ
gave rejoicing to the world,
grant, we pray, that through his Mother, the Virgin Mary,
we may obtain the joy of everlasting life.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Alternative Translation

This can be sung to the tune EASTER HYMN (aka "Jesus Christ is Risen Today") or AVE VIRGO VIRGINUM

Joy to thee, O Queen of Heaven. Alleluia!
He whom Thou wast meet to bear. Alleluia!
As He promised hath arisen. Alleluia!
Pour for us to God thy prayer. Alleluia!

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

Let us pray:
O God, who through the resurrection of Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ
didst vouchsafe to give joy to the world:
grant, we beseech thee, that through His Mother, the Virgin Mary,
we may obtain the joys of everlasting life.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.