O Sanctissima

Madonna by Raphael, an example of Marian art

O Sanctissima is a Roman Catholic hymn in Latin to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is claimed that the tune of the hymn is Sicilian. The tune is sometimes called Sicilian Mariners Hymn or Mariners Hymn.

The words of the first verse of the hymn in Latin are:

O Sanctissima, O Piissima
Dulcis Virgo Maria
Mater amata, Intemerata
Ora, Ora Pro Nobis

O most holy, O most lowly
Sweet Virgin Mary
Beloved Mother, undefiled
Pray, pray for us!

Other verses are:

Tota pulchra es, O Maria
Et macula non est in te
Mater amata intemerata
Ora, ora pro nobis

Sicut lilium inter spinas
Sic Maria inter filias
Mater amata intemerata
Ora ora pro nobis

In miseria, in angustia
Ora Virgo pro nobis
Pro nobis ora in mortis hora
Ora, ora pro nobis

Tu solatium et refugium
Virgo Mater Maria
Quidquid optamus per te speramus
Ora, ora pro nobis

A series of articles on Roman Catholic Mariology
General articles Overview of Mariology • Veneration of the Blessed Virgin • History of Mariology
Expressions of devotion Art • Hymns • Music • Architecture
Specific articles Apparitions • Saints • Popes • Societies • Hearts of Jesus & Mary • Consecration to Mary

It has also been made into a Christmas carol with English words not relating to the Blessed Virgin Mary, but rather to Jesus himself and his day of birth:

O thou happy, O thou holy
Glorious peace bringing Christmas time
Angel throngs to meet thee
On Thy birth we greet Thee
Hail to Christ, the Son of God, our newborn king

Or, in another English-language rendition:

Oh, how joyfully; Oh, how merrily
Christmas comes with its grace divine
Grace again is beaming
Christ the world redeeming;
Hail, ye Christians,
Hail the joyous Christmas time

The German version ("O du fröhliche") is a commonly well-known Christmas carol.

In the Spanish language the Christmas carol version begins -- O Santisimo, felicisimo.

The Czech version is a Marian song “Matko přesvatá” (Nr. 808 in Catholic Kancionál from publisher Zvon, 1993f.).

This tune is also used for the hymn -- Lord, Dismiss Us With Thy Blessing.

The Latin version is not typically heard at Christmas, but more often sung in Catholic churches on Marian feast days.

It is sometimes claimed that the tune is the source of the song "We Shall Overcome". (Tindley).

External links

An essay (in spotty English translation) on the origins of the hymn, with translations into various languages, including Japanese or Korean.