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O Virgo prudentissima quam coelo missus Gabriel supremi regis nuntius plenam testatur gratia. Te sponsam factor omnium, te Matrem Dei Filius, Te vocat habitaculum suum beatus spiritus. Tu stella maris diceris quae nobis inter scopulos, inter obscuros turbines portum salutis indicas. Per te de tetro carcere antiqui patres exerunt; Per te nobis astriferae panduntur aulae limina. Audi Virgo puerpera et [sola Mater]1 integra; Audi precantes quesimus tuos Maria servulos. Repelle mentis tenebras disrumpe cordis glaciem. Nos sub tuum praesidium Confugientes protege. Alleluia. Tenor Beata Mater et innupta Virgo, gloriosa regina mundi, intercede pro nobis ad Dominum.
1 sometimes "stella maris"
Text Authorship:
- by Angelo Ambrogini (1454 - 1494), as Poliziano [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Josquin des Prez (c1440 - 1521), "O Virgo prudentissima / Beata mater" [chorus], motet [text verified 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , title 1: "O vierge la plus sage", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (David Wyatt) , title 1: "O Virgin most wise / Blessed mother", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2009-08-07
Line count: 29
Word count: 97
O Virgin most wise Whom Gabriel, sent from heaven As messenger of the most-high king, Affirms as full of grace, The maker of everything called you wife, the Son of God called you mother, the blessed Spirit calls you his home. You are called star of the sea, You who show us among the rocks And dark winds The harbour of salvation. Through you the ancient fathers Are freed from their foul prison; Through you are opened to us The gates of the starry palace. Hear, child-bearing virgin And the [only mother]1 who remains unblemished; Hear your servants praying As we call to you, Mary. Drive the shadows from our minds, Shatter the ice in our hearts. Protect us, who take refuge Under your guardianship. Alleluia. Tenor Blessed Mother and unwed Virgin, Glorious queen of the world, Intercede for us with the Lord.
1 or: "star of the sea"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from Latin to English copyright © 2012 by David Wyatt, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
- a text in Latin by Angelo Ambrogini (1454 - 1494), as Poliziano
This text was added to the website: 2012-10-25
Line count: 29
Word count: 144