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"Ave maris stella" (Latin for 'Hail, star of the sea') is a medievalMarian hymn, usually sung atVespers. It was especially popular in theMiddle Ages and has been used by many composers, as the basis of other compositions.
Authorship of the original hymn has been attributed to several people, includingBernard of Clairvaux (12th century),Venantius Fortunatus (6th century)[1] andHermannus Contractus (11th century).[2] Probably originating in the 9th century,[3] it appears as a 10th century addition in two 9th-century manuscripts, one fromSalzburg (now inVienna)[4] and the other still at theAbbey of Saint Gall.[5] Its frequent occurrence in theDivine Office made it popular in theMiddle Ages, other hymns being founded upon it.[1] "Ave maris stella" was highly influential in presenting theBlessed Virgin Mary as a merciful and loving Mother.[6] "Much of its charm is due to its simplicity".[7] The title "Star of the Sea" is one of the oldest and most widespread titles applied to Mary. This hymn is frequently used as a prayer for the safe conduct of travelers.[8]
The melody is found in the Irishplainsong "Gabhaim Molta Bríde", a piece in praise ofSaint Brigid of Kildaire.[9] The popular modern hymnHail Queen of Heaven, the Ocean Star, is loosely based on this plainsong original.
The Latin text of the hymn as authorized for use in theLiturgy of the Hours of theRoman Rite (Ordinary Form) is as follows:[10]
Ave, maris stella,
Dei mater alma,
atque semper virgo,
Felix cæli porta.
Sumens illud Ave
Gabrielis ore,
funda nos in pace,
mutans Evæ[11] nomen.
Solve vincla reis,
profer lumen cæcis,
mala nostra pelle,
bona cuncta posce.
Monstra te esse matrem,
sumat per te precem[12]
qui pro nobis natus
tulit esse tuus.
Virgo singularis,
inter omnes mitis,
nos culpis solutos
mites fac et castos.
Vitam præsta puram,
iter para tutum,
ut videntes Jesum
semper collætemur.
Sit laus Deo Patri,
summo Christo decus,
Spiritui Sancto
tribus honor unus. Amen.[13]
Hail, star of the sea,
Nurturing Mother of God,
And ever Virgin
Happy gate of Heaven
Receiving that "Ave" (hail)
From the mouth of Gabriel,
Establish us in peace,
Transforming the name of "Eva" (Eve).[14]
Loosen the chains of the guilty,
Send forth light to the blind,
Our evil do thou dispel,
Entreat (for us) all good things.
Show thyself to be a Mother:
Through thee may he receive prayer
Who, being born for us,
Undertook to be thine own.
O unique Virgin,
Meek above all others,
Make us, set free from (our) sins,
Meek and chaste.
Bestow a pure life,
Prepare a safe way:
That seeing Jesus,
We may ever rejoice.
Praise be to God the Father,
To the Most High Christ (be) glory,
To the Holy Spirit
(Be) honour, to the Three equally. Amen.
The plainchant hymn has been developed by many composers from pre-Baroque to the present day. The Roman Rite employs four different plainchant tunes for "Ave maris stella"; the first three are designated forsolemnities,feasts, andmemorials of the Blessed Virgin Mary;[10] a fourth is given in theLittle Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary as an alternative to the memorial tone. The tunes have been used as thecantus firmus for somepolyphonicsettings of the Mass, including those byJosquin andVictoria.[15]
Renaissance settings include those byHans Leo Hassler,Felice Anerio,Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina,Guillaume Dufay andWilliam Byrd. Baroque settings includeMonteverdi'sVespro della Beata Vergine 1610, one byEmperor Leopold I, one byLouis Couperin in 1658, four settings byMarc-Antoine Charpentier (H.60, H.63, H.65, H.67 1670–1680s), andSébastien de Brossard. Romantic settings include those byDvorak,Grieg, andLiszt. Modern composers who have either set the text or used the hymn as an inspiration includeMarcel Dupré,Flor Peeters,Abel Decaux,Peter Maxwell Davies,Grace Williams,James MacMillan,Jean Langlais,Cecilia McDowall and others.[citation needed]
In 1884, the second Acadian National Convention atMiscouche,Prince Edward Island, adopted "Ave maris stella" as the anthem ofAcadia.[16]
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