R. O most radiant | LiederNet

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by Hildegard von Bingen (1098 - 1179)

Translation © by Grant Hicks

R. O clarissima

Language: Latin

Our translations: ENG

R. O clarissima
mater sancte medicine,
tu ungenta
per sanctum Filium tuum
infudisti
in plangentia vulnera mortis,
que Eva edificavit
in tormenta animarum.
Tu destruxisti mortem,
edificando vitam.

R. Ora pro nobis
ad tuum natum,
stella maris, Maria.

V. O vivificum instrumentum
et letum ornamentum
et dulcedo omnium deliciarum,
que in te non deficient.

R. Ora pro nobis
ad tuum natum,
stella maris, Maria.

Gloria Patri et Filio
et Spiritui sancto.

R. Ora pro nobis
ad tuum natum,
stella maris, Maria.

About the headline (FAQ)

Text Authorship:

by Hildegard von Bingen (1098 - 1179) [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 Erika Budai (b. 1966), "O clarissima Mater" [ women's chorus ], from Mystica, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
by Hildegard von Bingen (1098 - 1179), no title [sung text not yet checked]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (Grant Hicks) , copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2025-03-13
Line count: 25
Word count: 81

R. O most radiant

Language: English after the Latin

R. O most radiant 
mother of holy healing,
with unguents 
through your holy Son
have you anointed 
the wailing wounds of death,
which Eve established 
to the torment of souls.
You have destroyed death,
by establishing life.

R. Pray for us
to your Son,
Mary, star of the sea.

V. O life-giving instrument 
and joyful ornament 
and sweetness of all delights,
which in you will not fail.

R. Pray for us
to your Son,
Mary, star of the sea.

Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.

R. Pray for us
to your Son,
Mary, star of the sea.

About the headline (FAQ)

Translations of titles:
"O clarissima Mater" = "O Most Radiant Mother"

Text Authorship:

Translation from Latin to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in Latin by Hildegard von Bingen (1098 - 1179)
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2026-03-08
Line count: 25
Word count: 104