Alma Redemptoris Mater

Loving mother of the Redeemer,
gate of heaven, star of the sea,
assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise
again.
To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator,
Yet remained a virgin after as before.
You who received Gabriel’s joyful greeting,
have pity on us poor sinners.

Alma Redemptoris Mater,
quae pervia caeli porta manes,
et stella maris, succurre cadenti, surgere qui curat,
populo:

tu quae genuisti, natura mirante,
tuum sanctum Genitorem,
Virgo prius ac posterius,
Gabrielis ab ore,
sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.

---

The legacy of Alma Redemptoris Mater

Alma Redemptoris Mater is a Catholic prayer that is said during the season of Advent and the Christmas season. It is one of the four Marian antiphons, which are hymns of praise to the Virgin Mary that are sung during different parts of the liturgical year.

The prayer dates back to the eleventh century and is attributed to Hermannus Contractus, a monk and scholar who lived in the Benedictine Abbey of Reichenau in Germany. The hymn is a beautiful expression of devotion to Mary, and it is often sung during evening prayers, particularly during the season of Advent.

The prayer is in Latin and translates to “Loving Mother of the Redeemer, gate of heaven, star of the sea, assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise again.” It is a prayer for Mary’s intercession and assistance as we seek to grow in faith and live according to God’s will.

Over the years, the Alma Redemptoris Mater prayer has become a beloved part of Catholic liturgy and is often included in hymnals and prayer books. It is a beautiful expression of the Catholic faith and a reminder of the important role that Mary plays in the life of the Church.

The prayer is a reminder that Mary is not only the Mother of Jesus but also our loving and caring mother who is always ready to intercede on our behalf. It is a call to turn to Mary and to seek her guidance and assistance as we seek to follow Jesus and grow in our faith.