Contents Angelus ad Virginem
Gabriel, from Heaven's King
BVM


Angelus ad Virginem is a popular Medieval carol that is still popular today. It is estimated to have been composed in the later part of the 13th century. It appears in the Dublin Troper (ca. 1360) and Chaucer mentions it in his Miller's tale. The translation below is a poem by Gerald Manley Hopkins, S.J. (1844-1889), who used the Latin text as a basis for his composition. While not literal, it does try to capture the feeling of the original Latin text.

ANGELUS ad Virginem
subintrans in conclave
Virginis formidinem
demulcens inquit:<<Ave!>>
Ave, Regina virginum,
caeli terraeque Dominum
concipies et paries intacta
salutem hominum,
tu porta caeli facta
medela criminum.
Gabriel, from heaven's king
Sent to the maiden sweet,
Brought to her blissful tiding
And fair 'gan her to greet.
'Hail be thou, full of grace aright!
For so God's Son, the heaven's light,
Loves man, that He | a man will be | and take
Flesh of thee, maiden bright,
Mankind free for to make
Of sin and devil's might.'
Quomodo conciperem
quae virum non cognovi?
Qualiter infringerem
quod firma mente vovi?
Spiritus Sancti gratia
perficiet haec omnia;
ne timeas, sed gaudeas, secura
quod castimonia
manebit in te pura
Dei potentia.
Gently to him gave answer
The gentle maiden then:
'And in what wise should I bear
Child, that know not man?'
The angel said: 'O dread thee nought.
'Tis through the Holy Ghost that wrought
Shall be this thing | whereof tidings | I bring:
Lost mankind shall be bought
By thy sweet childbearing,
And back from sorrow brought.'
Ad haec virgo nobilis
respondens inquit ei:
<<Ancilla sum humilis
omnipotentis Dei.
Tibi caelesti nuntio,
tanti secreti conscio
consentiens et cupiens videre
factum quod audio;
parata sum parere
Dei consilio.>>
When the maiden understood
And the angel's words had heard,
Mildly, of her own mild mood,
The angel she answered:
'Our Lord His handmaiden, I wis,
I am, that here above us is:
And touching me |fulfilled be | thy saw;
That I, since His will is,
Be, out of nature's law
A maid with mother's bliss.'
Angelus disparuit,
et statim puellaris
uterus intumuit
vi partus virginalis.
quo circumdatus utero
novum mensium numero;
hinc exiit, et iniit conflictum,
affigens humero;
Crucem qua dedit ictum
hosti mortifero.
The angel went away thereon
And parted from her sight
And straightway she conceived a Son
Through th' Holy Ghost His might.
In her was Christ contained anon,
True God, true man, in flesh and bone;
Born of her too | When time was due; | who then
Redeemed us for His own,
And bought us out of pain,
And died for us t'atone.
Eia Mater Domini,
quae pacem reddidisti
Angelis et homini,
cum Christum genuisti:
tuum exora Filium
ut se nobis propitium
exhibeat et deleat peccata:
praestans auxilium
vita frui beata
post hoc exsilium.
Filled full of charity,
Thou matchless maiden-mother,
Pray for us to him that He
For thy love above other,
Away our sin and guilt should take,
And clean of every stain us make
And heaven's bliss, | when our time is | to die,
Would give us for thy sake;
With grace to serve him by
Till He us to him take. Amen.


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