It's Mothers Day weekend so today leads us to Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Mother of us all, his brothers and sisters. For your prayer I share with you Franz Biebl's exquisite Ave Maria, flawlessly performed by Chanticleer.
The music matches the delicate beauty of the iris in the photo: I hope you'll take the time to listen and to pray...
Composed in 1964, Biebl intersperses chant verses with the familiar text of the Ave. Scroll down for the lyrics in Latin and English.
et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.
The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary
and she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum;
benedicta tu in mulieribus
et benedictus fructus ventris tui Jesus.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Maria dixit, ecce ancilla Domini,
fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.
Mary said: behold the servant of the Lord,
let it be done to me according to your word.
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum;
benedicta tu in mulieribus
et benedictus fructus ventris tui Jesu.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Et verbum caro factum est,
et habitavit in nobis.
And the word became flesh
and dwelled among us.
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum;
benedicta tu in mulieribus
et benedictus fructus ventris tui Jesu.
Sancta Maria, mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of God,
pray for us, sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
