Resurrexit sicut dixit, alleluia!

It is with due acknowledgement to Michael Martin and his website, Treasury of Latin Prayers, that I reproduce his entry on the the Easter hymn of joy, the Regina Cæli:

Our Lady of Perpetual help. Papa Stronsay 2021.

The author is unknown, but the hymn has been found in manuscripts dating from the  9th and 12th centuries. One possible author in that time period is Pope Gregory V (+998). There is, however, a remarkable story attributing its composition to St. Gregory the Great. In 596, at Easter time, a plague was ravaging Rome. St. Gregory the Great called for a procession to pray for an end to the pestilence. He led the procession personally, holding the icon of Our Lady said to have been painted by St. Luke.  

The angel of Castel Sant'Angelo.  von Verschaffelt.

As he passed the Castle of Hadrian, voices could be heard from on high singing the Regina Cæli. The Pope responded in a loud voice with: "Ora pro nobis Deum. Alleluia!" 

At that moment an angel appeared and from that day the pestilence vanished. 

To commemorate this miracle, the name of the castle was then changed to Sant' Angelo and the words of the Regina Cæli were inscribed upon the roof of the Church of Ara Cœli.

Here is the hymn. The traditional concluding versicle and collect, which are not part of the original antiphon, are also given below.

REGINA cæli, lætare, alleluia:
Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia,
Resurrexit sicut dixit, alleluia.

Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

 

O QUEEN of heaven rejoice! alleluia:
For He whom thou didst merit to bear, alleluia,
Hath arisen as he said, alleluia.
Pray for us to God, alleluia.

V. Gaude et lætare, Virgo Maria, alleluia,
R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.

V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. Because the Lord is truly risen, alleluia.

Oremus

Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui, Domini nostri Iesu Christi, mundum lætificare dignatus es: præsta, quæsumus; ut, per eius Genetricem Virginem Mariam, perpetuæ capiamus gaudia vitæ. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Let us pray

O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; grant, we beseech Thee, that through His Mother, the Virgin Mary, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Totus tuus ego sum 

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam