ALMA REDEMPTORIS MATER

Alma Redemptoris Mater (English: Loving Mother of our Saviour) is a Marian hymn, written in
Latin hexameter, and one of four seasonal liturgical Marian antiphons sung at the end of the office of
Compline (the other three being Ave Regina clorum, the Regina cli and the Salve Regina).
Hermannus Contractus (also called Herman the Cripple; 10131054) is said to have authored the hymn
based on the writings of Saints Fulgentius, Epiphanius, and Irenaeus of Lyon. It is recited at compline
only from the first Sunday in Advent until the Feast of the Purification (2 February).
Latin
Alma Redemptoris Mater, qu pervia cli
Porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti,
Surgere qui curat, populo: tu qu genuisti,
Natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem
Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore
Sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.
From the first Sunday of Advent until Christmas Eve
. Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mari
. Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.
Oremus
Gratiam tuam qusumus, Domine, mentibus nostris infunde; ut qui, angelo nuntiante, Christi Filii tui
Incarnationem cognovimus, per passionem ejus et crucem, ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur. Per
eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum.
. Amen.

From First Vespers of Christmas until the Presentation

. Post Partum Virgo inviolata permansisti.
. Dei Genitrix, intercede pro nobis.
Oremus
Deus, qui salutis tern beat Mari virginitate fecunda humano generi prmia prstitisti: tribue,
qusumus, ut ipsam pro nobis intercedere sentiamus, per quam meruimus, Auctorem vit suscipere
Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum.
. Amen.
English translation
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;
Oh, by that joy which Gabriel brought to thee,
Thou Virgin first and last, let us thy mercy see.
From the first Sunday of Advent until Christmas Eve
. The Angel of the LORD brought tidings unto Mary
. And she conceived by the Holy Ghost.
Let us pray.
Pour forth we beseech Thee, O LORD, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of
Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an Angel, may, by His Passion and Cross, be
brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ, our Lord.
. Amen.
From First Vespers of Christmas until the Presentation
. After childbirth, 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 given to mankind the rewards of eternal
salvation: grant, we beseech Thee, that we may experience her intercession for us, through whom we
deserved to receive the Author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son.
. Amen.