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Annunciazione, Fra Angelico

Ave Maria (English Hail Mary) is the salutation given by the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary at the Annunciation (Luke 1:28): Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum ("Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee"). To these words many additions have been made, both as prayers addressed to the Blessed Virgin (such as that prayed in The Rosary) and as musical texts. The Church Slavonic equivalent is known as Богородице Дево, радуйся (translit. Bogoroditse Devo, raduisya) which translates as "Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos" ("Theotokos" being Mother of God).

The traditional Catholic prayer continues with Elizabeth's greeting to her cousin Mary (Luke 1:41): Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui ("Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb"); and the name (Jesus) given to Mary's child.

It concludes with words adopted by the Council of Trent: Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen ("Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen"). Other texts which include Elizabeth's greeting alter this formula to varying degrees.

Some texts follow the salutation of Gabriel with Virgo serena ("serene Virgin") and depart from there, often referring to the several aspects of Mary's presence in the Bible.

Musical settings at CPDL: on THIS PAGE

Latin Texts and translations

"Ave Maria ... Benedicta tu" (traditional Catholic prayer)

Latin text Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum; benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus [Christus]. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.	English translation Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus [Christ]. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Italian translation Ave Maria, piena di grazia, il Signore è con Te; Tu sei benedetta fra le donne, e benedetto è il frutto del seno Tuo, Gesù. Santa Maria, Madre di Dio, prega per noi peccatori, adesso e nell'ora della nostra morte. Amen.	German translation Gegrüsset seist du Maria, voll der Gnade, der Herr ist mit dir; du bist gebenedeit unter den Frauen, und gebenedeit ist die Frucht deines Leibes, Jesus. Heilige Maria, Mutter Gottes, bitte für uns Sünder, jetzt und in der Stunde unseres Todes. Amen.
Spanish translation Dios te salve María, llena eres de gracia, el Señor es contigo, bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre Jesús. Santa María, madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros pecadores, ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amén.	Dutch translation Wees gegroet, Maria, vol van genade, de Heer is met u. Gezegend zijt gij boven alle vrouwen en gezegend is de vrucht van uw lichaam, Jezus. Heilige Maria, moeder Gods, bid voor ons, arme zondaars, nu, en in het uur van onze dood. Amen.
Portuguese translation Ave Maria, cheia de graça, o Senhor é convosco; Bendita sois vós entre as mulheres, E bendito é o fruto do vosso ventre, Jesus [Cristo]. Santa Maria, Mãe de Deus, Rogai por nós, pecadores, Agora e na hora da nossa morte. Amém.	Finnish translation Terve, Maria, armoitettu, Herra sinun kanssasi; Siunattu sinä naisten joukossa ja siunattu kohtusi hedelmä, Jeesus. Pyhä Maria, Jumalan äiti, rukoile meidän syntisten puolesta nyt ja kuolemamme hetkellä. Aamen
Chinese translation 文言文: 萬福瑪利亞， 滿被聖寵者， 主與爾偕焉， 女中爾為讚美， 爾胎子耶穌， 並為讚美。 天主聖母瑪利亞， 為我等罪人， 今祈天主， 及我等死候。亞孟。 白話文: 萬福瑪利亞，妳充滿聖寵， 主與你同在，妳在婦女中受讚頌， 妳的親生子耶穌同受讚頌。 天主聖母瑪利亞， 求妳現在和我們臨終時， 為我們罪人祈求天主。阿們。	Polish translation Zdrowaś Mario, Łaskiś pełna, Pan z Tobą, Błogosławionaś Ty między niewiastami I błogosławion owoc żywota Twojego - Jezus. Święta Mario, Matko Boża, Módl się za nami grzesznymi, Teraz i w godzinę śmierci naszej. Amen.
Danish translation Hil dig, Maria, fuld af nåde! Herren er med dig! Velsignet er du iblandt kvinder, og velsignet er dit livs frugt, Jesus. Hellige Maria, Guds Moder! bed for os syndere, nu og i vor dødstime. Amen.	Slovak translation Zdravas', Mária, milosti plná, Pán s tebou; požehnaná si medzi ženami a požehnaný je plod života tvojho, Ježiš. Svätá Mária, Matka Božia, Pros za nás hriešnych, teraz i v hodinu smrti našej. Amen.
	Korean translation 은총이 가득하신 마리아님 기뻐하소서 주님께서 함께 계시니 여인중에 복되시며 태중에 아들 예수님 또한 복되시 나이다. 천주의 성모 마리아님 이제와 저희 죽을 때에 저희 죄인을 위하여 빌어 주소서. 아멘.

Variant 1 (Aliseda, Des Prez, Guerrero, Palestrina, Victoria)

Latin text Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum; benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus. Sancta Maria, Regina coeli, dulcis et pia, o Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, ut cum electis [te] videamus.

English translation Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Queen of heaven sweet and merciful, O Mother of God, pray for us sinners, that with the elect we may gaze [upon thee].

Variant 2 (Mouton)

Latin text Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum; tecum in corde, tecum in ventre, tecum in utero. O Maria, Genetrix Dei, ora pro nobis.

English translation Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; with thee in thy heart, with thee in thy womb, with thee in thine uterus. O Mary, Bearer of God, pray for us.

"Ave Maria ... Virgo serena" 1 (Des Prez)

Latin text 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. Ave pia humilitas, Sine viro fecunditas, Cuius Annuntiatio Nostra fuit salvatio. Ave vera virginitas, Immaculata castitas, Cuius Purificatio Nostra fuit purgatio. Ave, praeclara omnibus Angelicis virtutibus, Cuius Assumptio Nostra fuit glorificatio. O Mater Dei, Memento mei. Amen.

English translation Hail Mary, full of grace, The Lord is with thee, serene Virgin. Hail, thou whose Conception, Full of great joy, Fills heaven and earth With new gladness. Hail, thou whose Nativity Became our great celebration, Like Lucifer, the morning star, Going before the true sun. Hail, faithful humility, Fruitful without man, Whose Annunciation Was our salvation. Hail, true virginity, Immaculate chastity, Whose Purification Was our cleansing. Hail, glorious one In all angelic virtures, Whose Assumption Was our glorification. O Mother of God, Remember me. Amen. (Translation by The St. Ann Choir)

"Ave Maria ... Virgo serena" 2 (Mouton)

Latin text Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum, Virgo serena, Tu parvi et magni, leonis et agni, Salvatoris Christi, templum extitisti, sed virgo intacta. Tu floris et roris, panis et pastoris, virginum et regina, rosa sine spina, genitrix es facta. Tu civitas regis justitiae, Tu mater es misericordiae, de lacu faecis et miseriae, Theophilum reformans gratiae. Te collaudat caelestis curia, tu mater es regis et filia. O Maria dulcissima, per te reis donatur venia. O Maria piissima, per te reis donatur venia. O Maria mitissima, per te jusits confertur gratia. Pro nobis semper Christum exora. Amen.

English translation Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, serene Virgin. For lowly and great, lion and lamb, our saviour Christ: you have been his temple, while still a virgin. For the flower and rose, the bread and the shepherd: you queen of virgins, a rose without a thorn, you became their mother. You are the royal seat of justice, you are the mother of mercy, from out of the depths of dregs and misery hast seen Theophilus to grace. The heavenly court praises you, you the king’s mother and daughter; O sweetest Mary, through you the accused is forgiven. O most pious Mary, through you the accused is forgiven. O most gentle Mary, through you favor comes to the just. For us always entreat Christ. Amen.

Church Slavonic text and translations

Church Slavonic text Богородице Дево, радуйся, Благодатная Марие, Господь с Товою; Благословена Ты в женах и благословен плод чрева Твоего, яко Спаса родила еси душ наших.   Transliteration: Bogoroditse Devo, raduisya Blagodatnaya Marie, Gospod s Tovoyu Blagoslovena Tyi v zhenakh i blagosloven plod chreva Tvoego, yako Spasa rodila esi dush nashikh.

English translation Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, Mary full of grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed art Thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, for Thou hast borne the Savior of our souls.