Skip to content

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Mother of Christ, hear thou thy people’s cry, Star of the deep and Portal of the sky! Mother of Him who thee from nothing made, sinking we strive and call to thee for aid: O by that joy which Gabriel brought to thee, True Virgin, let us e’er thy mercy see. News from the angel Mary first received, and by the Holy Ghost she did conceive. Pour into us, O Lord, Thy heavenly grace, and by Thy incarnation our souls raise. Thou, fruitful Virgin, to us Christ didst bring: pray for us, Mother of our God and King. By Christ’s revealing through thy womb, O Queen, may intercession bring us nearer Thee.

1 Mother of Christ, hear thou thy people’s cry,
Star of the deep and Portal of the sky!
2 Mother of Him who thee from nothing made,
sinking we strive and call to thee for aid:
3 O by that joy which Gabriel brought to thee,
True Virgin, let us e’er thy mercy see.
4 News from the angel Mary first received,
and by the Holy Ghost she did conceive.
5 Pour into us, O Lord, Thy heavenly grace,
and by Thy incarnation our souls raise.
6 Thou, fruitful Virgin, to us Christ didst bring:
pray for us, Mother of our God and King.
7 By Christ’s revealing through thy womb, O Queen,
may intercession bring us nearer Thee.

PDF

Information
Text Edward Caswall (1814-1878), st. 1-3;
Arlie Coles (b. 1996), st. 4, 6;
Richard Pryor III (b. 1998), st. 5, 7
Tune Song 46
Orlando Gibbons (1623)

Alma Redemptoris Mater · Advent to the Presentation

Gracious Mother of our Redeemer, for ever abiding Heaven's gateway, and star of ocean, O succor the people, who, though falling, strive to rise again. Thou Maiden who barest thy holy Creator, to the wonder of all nature; ever Virgin, after, as before thou receivedst that Ave from the mouth of Gabriel; have compassion on us sinners.

In Advent

℣  The Angel of the Lord announced unto Mary.
℟  And she conceived by the Holy Ghost.

Let us pray: We beseech thee, O Lord, pour thy grace into our hearts: that, as we have known the incarnation of thy Son Jesus Christ (announced) by the message of an angel (to the Virgin Mary), so by his ✠ cross and passion we may be brought unto the glory of his resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

From First Vespers of the Nativity

℣  After Childbearing, O Virgin, thou didst remain inviolate.
℟  Intercede for us, O Mother of God.

Let us pray: O God, who by the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary hast bestowed upon mankind the reward of eternal salvation: Grant, we beseech thee, that we may know the help of her intercession through whom we have been accounted worthy to receive the Author of our life, Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.

Kindly Mother of our Redeemer; great portal of heaven ever open, the sea's far-shining star: O succour thy people who though fallen strive to rise again. O thou who hast brought forth, to all nature's wonder, nature's Lord, thine own Creator: Mother yet a Virgin ever more, who at Gabriel's speaking didst receive the Ave: towards us sinners shew thy pity.

In Advent

℣  The Angel of the Lord brought tidings to Mary.
℟  And she conceived by the Holy Ghost.

Let us Pray. We beseech thee, O Lord, pour thy grace into our hearts: that, as we have known the incarnation of thy Son Jesus Christ by the message of an Angel; so by his Cross and passion we may be brought unto the glory of his resurrection. Through the same Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

From First Vespers of the Nativity

℣  After child-bearing thou remainedst a pure Virgin.
℟  Mother of God, intercede for us.

Let us Pray. O God, who by the child-bearing of a pure Virgin hast bestowed upon all mankind the rewards of everlasting life: grant, we beseech thee; that we may know the succour of her intercession, through whom we have been found worthy to receive the Author of life, even Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.