Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea): Latin and English Hymn to Mary

By /
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

The Ave Maris Stella (“Hail, Star of the Sea”) is one of the oldest and most beautiful hymns to the Virgin Mary, sung at Vespers on her feasts for over a thousand years. It greets Mary as the star that guides travelers on the stormy sea of life and as the “happy gate of heaven” through whom Christ came to us. Below is the hymn in Latin and in Edward Caswall’s English translation, its meaning verse by verse, its history, and when it is sung.

The Ave Maris Stella in Latin

As printed in the Raccolta (1910), where it was enriched with an indulgence by Pope Leo XIII:

Ave maris stella,
Dei Mater alma
Atque semper virgo,
Felix caeli porta.

Sumens illud Ave
Gabrielis ore,
Funda nos in pace,
Mutans Evae nomen.

Solve vincla reis,
Profer lumen caecis,
Mala nostra pelle,
Bona cuncta posce.

Monstra te esse matrem,
Sumat per te preces,
Qui pro nobis natus,
Tulit esse tuus.

Virgo singularis,
Inter omnes mitis,
Nos culpis solutos,
Mites fac et castos.

Vitam praesta puram,
Iter para tutum,
Ut videntes Jesum,
Semper collaetemur.

Sit laus Deo Patri,
Summo Christo decus,
Spiritui Sancto,
Tribus honor unus.
Amen.

In English: Hail, thou Star of Ocean

Edward Caswall’s translation (1849), from Henry Formby’s Catholic Hymns (1860):

Hail, thou Star of Ocean,
Portal of the sky,
Ever Virgin Mother
Of the Lord most high!

Oh, by Gabriel’s Ave,
Utter’d long ago,
Eva’s name reversing,
‘Stablish peace below.

Break the captive’s fetters,
Light on darkness pour;
All our ills expelling,
Every bliss implore.

Show thyself a mother,
Offer Him our sighs;
Who for us incarnate
Did not thee despise.

Virgin of all virgins,
To thy shelter take us;
Gentlest of the gentle,
Chaste and gentle make us.

Still as on we journey,
Help our weak endeavour;
Till with thee and Jesus
We rejoice for ever.

Through the highest heaven,
To the all-holy Three,
Father, Son, and Spirit,
One same glory be.

The meaning of the hymn

  1. Star of the Sea and gate of heaven. Mary guides us like the star that sailors steer by; through her the Savior entered the world.
  2. Gabriel’s Ave and Eva’s name. The angel’s greeting Ave reverses the name Eva: Mary undoes what Eve did. See Mary, Undoer of Knots.
  3. Freedom and light. We ask her to loose the chains of sinners, give light to the blind and drive away our evils.
  4. “Show thyself a mother.” One of the most famous lines in Marian prayer: Monstra te esse matrem.
  5. Purity and gentleness. Virgin above all, she makes us gentle and chaste.
  6. A safe journey to Jesus. We ask a pure life and a safe road until we see Jesus and rejoice with him for ever.
  7. Praise to the Trinity.

History

The hymn is found in manuscripts of the ninth century, including one at the Abbey of St. Gall, and its author is unknown; it has been attributed to Venantius Fortunatus, Paul the Deacon and others. The title “Star of the Sea” comes from an ancient interpretation of Mary’s Hebrew name, Miriam, as stella maris. The hymn has been sung for centuries at First and Second Vespers of the feasts of Our Lady, and St. Louis de Montfort included it in the daily prayers of preparation for the Total Consecration. It is also the national anthem of the Acadian people of Canada.

When is it sung?

  • At Vespers on Marian feasts and in the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary. See Vespers.
  • During the Total Consecration to Mary. See Total Consecration to Mary.
  • By sailors, fishermen and seafarers, who honor Mary as Star of the Sea (Stella Maris).

Frequently asked questions

What does Ave Maris Stella mean?

“Hail, Star of the Sea,” a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Who wrote the Ave Maris Stella?

No one knows. It dates from at least the ninth century.

Why is Mary called Star of the Sea?

Because, like the star that guides sailors, she guides Christians through the storms of life to Christ, the safe harbor.

More Marian hymns and prayers

Texts and sources

  • Latin: The Raccolta (Burns and Oates, 1910), no. 213, public domain (archive.org). Small scan corrections are listed in our text log.
  • English: Edward Caswall (1849), in Henry Formby, Catholic Hymns (1860), public domain (Wikisource).