Appropriately on the feast of the Assumption of Mary today, our recessional was an English translation of the hymn
Salve, Regina coelitum, O Maria.
Sors unica terrigenum, O Maria.
Jubilate Cherubim,
exsultate Seraphim,
consonate perpetim.
Salve, salve, salve Regina.
2. Mater misericordiae, O Maria.
Dulcis parens clementiae, O Maria.
Jubilate ...
3. Tu vitae lux, fons gratiae, O Maria.
Causa nostrae laetitiae,
O Maria.
Translation and additional English verson, author I have not yet learned:
Hail, Holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria!
Hail, Mother of mercy and of love, O Maria!
Triumph all ye cherubim!
Sing with us ye seraphim!
Heaven and earth resound the hymn!
Salve, salve, salve, Regina!
Our life, our sweetness here below, O Maria!
Our hope in sorrow and in woe, O Maria!
Triumph all ye cherubim!
Sing with us ye seraphim!
Heaven and earth resound the hymn!
Salve, salve, salve, Regina!
To thee do we cry, poor sons of Eve, O Maria!
To thee we sigh, we mourn, we grieve, O Maria!
Triumph all ye cherubim!
Sing with us ye seraphim!
Heaven and earth resound the hymn!
Salve, salve, salve, Regina!
Turn, then, most gracious Advocate, O Maria!
Towards us thine eyes compassionate, O Maria!
Triumph all ye cherubim!
Sing with us ye seraphim!
Heaven and earth resound the hymn!
Salve, salve, salve, Regina! O Maria!
When this our exile is complete, O Maria!
Show us thy Son, our Jesus sweet, O Maria!
Triumph all ye cherubim!
Sing with us ye seraphim!
Heaven and earth resound the hymn!
Salve, salve, salve, Regina!
O clement, gracious Mother sweet, O Maria!
O virgin Mary we entreat, O Maria!
Triumph all ye cherubim!
Sing with us ye seraphim!
Heaven and earth resound the hymn!
Salve, salve, salve, Regina!
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The big puzzle is whether to count the Salve Regina as two hymns or one. The first, dating back to the 11th century and Herman of Reichenau, is the well-known Salve Regina Mater Misericordiae, often sung at Compline and recited at the end of the rosary. This hymn is in Gregorian plainchant.
Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae:
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus, exsules, filii Hevae.
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia ergo, Advocata nostra,
illos tuos misericordes oculos
ad nos converte.
Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis, post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens: O pia: O dulcis
Virgo Maria.
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The newer Salve, Regina coelitum (Hail, queen of heavenly beings) is in 4/4 time, and may be trochaic tetrameter catalectic (four feet, stressed-unstressed with a final syllable missing). Melchior Ludwig Herold (1753-1810) may have composed both the rewording and the melody.
