Prayers Marian Prayers Salve Regina

Salve Regina

Salve Regina
Marian 📜 Earliest form: c. 11th century ✍️ traditionally attributed to Blessed Hermann of Reichenau; authorship uncertain 🕯️ Used liturgically
Latina

Salve, Regína, Mater misericórdiæ, vita, dulcédo et spes nóstra, salve.

"And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"— Luke 1:43 (Douay-Rheims)
SAHL-veh, reh-JEE-nah, MAH-tehr mee-zeh-ree-KOR-dee-eh, VEE-tah, dool-CHEH-doh et spehs NOH-strah, SAHL-veh.

Ad te clamámus, éxsules fílii Hevæ. Ad te suspirámus, geméntes et fléntes in hac lacrimárum valle.

"In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return to the earth, out of which thou wast taken."— Genesis 3:19 (Douay-Rheims)
Ahd teh klah-MAH-moos, EK-soo-lehs FEE-lee-ee HEH-veh. Ahd teh soo-spee-RAH-moos, jeh-MEN-tehs et FLEN-tehs in hahk lah-kree-MAH-room VAHL-leh.

Éia ergo, advocáta nóstra, illos tuos misericórdes óculos ad nos convérte. Et Iésum, benedíctum frúctum ventris túi, nobis post hoc exsílium osténde.

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory."— John 1:14 (Douay-Rheims)
EH-yah EHR-goh, ahd-voh-KAH-tah NOH-strah, EEL-lohs TOO-ohs mee-zeh-ree-KOR-dehs OH-koo-lohs ahd nohs kon-VEHR-teh. Et YEH-zoom, beh-neh-DEEK-toom FROOK-toom VEN-trees TOO-ee, NOH-bees pohst hohk ek-SEE-lee-oom ohs-TEN-deh.

O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo María.

Oh KLEH-mens, Oh PEE-ah, Oh DOOL-chees VEER-goh Mah-REE-ah.
Vernacular

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope.

To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us. And after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

Prayer History

Listen to Prayer History

The Salve Regina — the Hail, Holy Queen — is one of the most ancient and emotionally powerful prayers in the Catholic tradition. It is the final prayer of the Rosary, one of the four great Marian antiphons of the Divine Office, and for nearly a thousand years it has been the last prayer on the lips of monks, sailors, soldiers, and saints before they close their eyes at night.

The prayer is traditionally attributed to Blessed Hermann of Reichenau (1013–1054), a Benedictine monk also known as Hermannus Contractus — "Hermann the Cripple." Born with severe physical disabilities, likely cerebral palsy and a cleft palate, Hermann could barely move or speak. Yet he became one of the greatest scholars of his age, mastering Latin, Greek, and Arabic, and composing works on mathematics, astronomy, music, and theology. Tradition holds that he also composed two other great Marian antiphons: the Alma Redemptoris Mater and the Veni Sancte Spiritus. While modern scholars debate the attribution, the literary style and theological tone of the Salve Regina are consistent with Hermann's other known works. His beatification was formally confirmed in 1863.

The prayer was set down in largely its current form at the Abbey of Cluny in the 12th century, where it was used as a processional hymn on Marian feasts. The Cistercians — the order of St. Bernard of Clairvaux — adopted the practice of chanting the Salve Regina daily from 1218. In the 1220s, the Dominican friars in Bologna began singing it nightly at Compline, a practice that quickly spread throughout their entire order and, through the Dominicans' influence, across all of Europe.

The Salve Regina held a special place among medieval sailors. It was incorporated into the ritual for the blessing of ships, and crews would sing it before setting out to sea. Christopher Columbus and his sailors are recorded to have chanted the Salve Regina each evening during their 1492 voyage across the Atlantic. It was the last prayer sung before the New World was sighted.

According to Dominican tradition, Our Lady herself appeared to St. Dominic and spoke of this prayer. When he asked her name, she replied: "I am she whom you invoke every evening; and when you say 'Eia ergo, advocata nostra' — 'Turn then, most gracious Advocate' — I prostrate myself before my Son, entreating Him to protect this Order."

The three closing invocations — "O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria" ("O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary") — are sometimes attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux, who according to legend added them spontaneously while the antiphon was being sung in the cathedral of Speyer. Whether historical fact or pious legend, the tradition captures the prayer's essential character: it is not merely a hymn of praise, but a cry from the heart of exiled humanity to its Mother.

📋 Quick Facts

Type Marian Antiphon / Hymn
Also Known As Hail, Holy Queen; Salve Regina
Traditional Attribution Blessed Hermann of Reichenau (c. 1013–1054)
Current Form Abbey of Cluny, 12th century
Liturgical Season Trinity Sunday through Advent (at Compline)
Rosary Use Final prayer after the five decades
Musical Settings Victoria, Palestrina, Josquin, Lassus, Schubert, Handel
Indulgence Partial indulgence (Enchiridion Indulgentiarum, 2004)

💡 Did You Know?

The Salve Regina's traditional author, Blessed Hermann of Reichenau, was born with severe disabilities — likely cerebral palsy and a cleft palate — yet became one of the greatest scholars, composers, and theologians of the 11th century.
Christopher Columbus and his crew chanted the Salve Regina every evening during their 1492 voyage across the Atlantic. It was the last prayer sung before the New World was sighted.
The three closing words — "O clemens, O pia, O dulcis" — are traditionally said to have been added spontaneously by St. Bernard of Clairvaux while the antiphon was being sung in the cathedral of Speyer.
The Dominican Order adopted the nightly singing of the Salve Regina in the 1220s, and their widespread presence across Europe is largely responsible for its universal popularity.
The Salve Regina was part of the medieval ritual for blessing ships, making it especially beloved by sailors — who saw themselves as "exiles" on the sea, praying to Mary as their advocate.
The phrase "this valley of tears" (hac lacrimarum valle) has become one of the most quoted expressions in Catholic devotional language, used far beyond the context of this prayer.
The Salve Regina is one of four seasonal Marian antiphons; the others are Alma Redemptoris Mater (Advent/Christmas), Ave Regina Caelorum (post-Christmas/Lent), and Regina Caeli (Easter).
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Salve Regina
Salve Regina

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope.

To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us. And after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

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Salve Regina
Salve Regina

Salve, Regína, Mater misericórdiæ, vita, dulcédo et spes nóstra, salve.

Ad te clamámus, éxsules fílii Hevæ. Ad te suspirámus, geméntes et fléntes in hac lacrimárum valle.

Éia ergo, advocáta nóstra, illos tuos misericórdes óculos ad nos convérte. Et Iésum, benedíctum frúctum ventris túi, nobis post hoc exsílium osténde.

O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo María.

✠ Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam ✠