Ave Maris Stella

Ave Maris Stella ("Hail Star of the Sea") is a plainsong Vespers hymn to the Virgin Mary. It is of uncertain origin and can be dated back at least as far as the eighth century. It was especially popular in the Middle Ages and has been used by many composers as the basis of other compositions. The creation of the original hymn has been attributed to several people, including Saint Venantius Fortunatus. [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02149a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia Article] .] . The melody is found in the Irish plainsong "Gabhaim Molta Bríde", a piece in praise of St. Bridget.

It finds particular prominence in the Way of Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary by Saint Louis de Montfort.

Latin Lyrics

The Latin text of the hymn as authorized for use in the Liturgy of the Hours of the Roman Rite (ordinary form) is the following: ["Liber Hymnarius", Solesmes, 1983.]

Ave, maris stella,
Déi mater alma,
atque semper virgo,
félix caeli porta.

:Hail, star of the sea, :Nurturing Mother of God, :And ever Virgin :Happy gate of Heaven.

Sumens illud «Ave»
Gabriélis ore,
funda nos in pace,
mutans Evae [Also spelled "Hevae".] nomen.

:Receiving that "Ave" (hail) :From the mouth of Gabriel, :Establish us in peace, :Transforming the name of "Eva" (Eve).:(The word "Hail" in Latin ["Ave"] is the reverse spelling of the Latin for "Eve" ["Eva"] .)

Solve vincla reis,
profer lumen caecis,
mala nostra pelle,
bona cuncta posce.

:Loosen the chains of the guilty, :Send forth light to the blind, :Our evil do thou dispel, :Entreat (for us) all good things.

Monstra te esse matrem,
sumat per te precem [Thus in the original, see "Te Decet Hymnus", Typis Polyglottis Vaticanis, 1984, p. 255 and "Liber Hymnarius", Solesmes, 1983; Pope Urban VIII's 17th-century revision has "preces" here.]
qui pro nobis natus
tulit esse tuus.

:Show thyself to be a Mother: :Through thee may he (Jesus) receive (our) prayer :Who, being born for us, :Undertook to be thine own (Son).

Virgo singuláris,
inter omnes mitis,
nos culpis solútos
mites fac et castos.

:O unique Virgin, :Meek above all others, :Make us, set free from (our) sins,:Meek and chaste.

Vitam praesta puram,
iter para tutum,
ut vidéntes Iesum
semper collaetémur.

:Bestow a pure life,:Prepare a safe way::That seeing Jesus,:We may ever rejoice. Sit laus Deo Patri,
summo Christo decus,
Sprítui Sancto
honor, tribus unus. Amen. [Thus in "Liber Hymnarius", Solesmes, 1983. Pope Urban VIII's text has "Spiritui Sancto, Tribus honor unus".]

:Praise be to God the Father,:To the Most High Christ (be) glory,:To the Holy Spirit:(Be) honor, to the Three equally. Amen.

Acadian Anthem

Ave Maris Stella is the anthem of the Acadians, a francophone community in the Canadian Maritimes distinct from the French-Canadians of Quebec. The Acadians were highly influenced by the Roman Catholic Church, and had and still have a high degree of devotion to the Virgin Mary. As such, Acadia's symbols reflect its people's beliefs. This is particularly evident in their anthem which instead of being written in French is written in Latin.

It was adopted as the anthem of the Acadian people at the Second Acadian National Convention, held in Miscouche, Prince Edward Island in 1884. To this day, it remains a source of Acadian patriotism.

The hymn was sung in its original version until French lyrics were finally composed in 1994. The French lyrics are attributed to Jacinthe LaForest, from Mont-Carmel, Prince Edward Island, who submitted her lyrics during a contest held throughout the Maritimes by the "Société nationale de l'Acadie" in search of French lyrics. Out of respect for the original hymn, the first verse in the Acadian national anthem remains in Latin.

These are the lyrics, in French. The first verse is in Latin, and is repeated at the end of the hymn.

Ave Maris Stella
Dei Mater Alma
Atque Semper Virgo
Felix Coeli Porta
Felix Coeli Porta

Acadie ma patrie
À ton nom je me lie
Ma vie, ma foi sont à toi
Tu me protégeras
Tu me protégeras

Acadie ma patrie
Ma terre et mon défi
De près, de loin tu me tiens
Mon cœur est acadien
Mon cœur est acadien

Acadie ma patrie
Ton histoire je la vis
La fierté je te la dois
En l'Avenir je crois
En l'Avenir je crois

Ave Maris Stella
Dei Mater Alma
Atque Semper Virgo
Felix Coeli Porta
Felix Coeli Porta

The Anthem in English

Called: Star of the Sea, we hail Thee
This is an English transliteration of the Acadian National Hymn.The first verse and last verse are still in Latin:

Ave Maris Stella
Dei Mater Alma
Atque Semper Virgo
Felix Coeli Porta
Felix Coeli Porta

Acadia my homeland
To your name I draw myself
My life, my faith belong to you
You will protect me
You will protect me

Acadia my homeland
My land and my challenge
From near, from far you hold onto me
My heart as Acadian
My heart as Acadian

Acadia my homeland
I live your history
I owe you my pride
I believe in your future
I believe in your future

Ave Maris Stella
Dei Mater Alma
Atque Semper Virgo
Felix Coeli Porta
Felix Coeli Porta

Notable uses of the plainchant

The Roman Rite employs three different plainchant tunes for the Ave Maris Stella (designated for solemnities, feasts, and memorials of the Blessed Virgin Mary). ["Liber Hymnarius", Solesmes, 1983.] The plainchant hymn has been developed by many composers from Palestrina to the present day (e.g., a recent setting by Peter Maxwell Davies).

The plainchant tune has also been used as the cantus firmus for polyphonic settings of the mass, including those by Josquin and Victoria.

References

External links

* [http://www.kunstderfuge.com/_/avemar1_%28c%29taylor.mid MIDI renditioning]
* [http://www.cyberacadie.com/images/avemarisstella.jpgSheet music, score]