For the devotion known as the angelus, see Angelus

Angelus

The Angelus is a Christian devotion in memory of the Incarnation. The name Angelus is derived from the opening words: Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ The Angelus (Latin for "angel") is a Christian devotion in memory of the Incarnation. The name Angelus is derived from the opening words: Angelus...

, and for other meanings, see angelus (disambiguation)

Angelus (disambiguation)

Angelus, The Angelus or Angélus may refer to:Religion:* Angelus, Latin for angel* Angelus, a Christian devotion* Angelus of Jerusalem, Saint Angelus, the thirteenth century martyr* Angelus ad virginem, Latin carol on the Annunciation...

.

Angelus ad Virginem (or its English title, Gabriel, From Heven King Was To The Maide Sende) was a popular medieval carol, whose text is a poetic version of the Hail Mary

Hail Mary

The Angelic Salutation, Hail Mary, or Ave Maria is a traditional biblical Catholic prayer asking for the intercession of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Hail Mary is used within the Catholic Church, and it forms the basis of the Rosary...

 and the Annunciation

Annunciation

The Annunciation, also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary or Annunciation of the Lord, is the Christian celebration of the announcement by the angel Gabriel to Virgin Mary, that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus the Son of God. Gabriel told Mary to name her...

 to the Virgin Mary. Probably Franciscan

Franciscan

Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....

 in origin, it was brought to Britain by French friar

Friar

A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...

s in the 13th century. It is said to have originally consisted of 27 stanzas, with each following stanza beginning with the consecutive letter of the alphabet.

Surviving manuscripts may be found in a c. 1361 Dublin Troper (a music book for use at Mass) and a 13th or 14th century vellum Sequentiale that may have been connected with the Church of Addle, Yorkshire. It lyric also appears in the works of John Audelay

John Audelay

John Audelay or Awdelay was a priest and poet from Haughmond Abbey in Shropshire; he is one of the few English poets of the period whose name is known to us. Some of the first Christmas carols recorded in English appear among his works....

 (perhaps a priest, he definitely spent the last years of his life at Haughmond Abbey

Haughmond Abbey

Haughmond Abbey at Haughmond Hill in Shropshire, otherwise known as the Abbey of Saint John the Evangelist, was founded in about 1100 AD. A statue of St John with his emblem can be found carved into the arches of the chapter house. His image also appeared on the Abbey's great seal.-History:The...

, where he wrote for the monks), in a group of four Marian poems.

It appears in Geoffrey Chaucer

Geoffrey Chaucer

Geoffrey Chaucer , known as the Father of English literature, is widely considered the greatest English poet of the Middle Ages and was the first poet to have been buried in Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey...

's Miller's Tale, where the scholar Nicholas sings it in Latin to the accompaniment of his psaltery

Psaltery

A psaltery is a stringed musical instrument of the harp or the zither family. The psaltery of Ancient Greece dates from at least 2800 BC, when it was a harp-like instrument...

:

And over all there lay a psaltery

Whereon he made an evening's melody,

Playing so sweetly that the chamber rang;

And Angelus ad virginem he sang;

And after that he warbled the King's Note:

Often in good voice was his merry throat.

For many years, "Angelus Ad Virginem" was the first piece of music sung at the annual Bracebridge Dinner, a lavish Christmas feast held at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park. It was sung as the guests entered the dining room. This piece of music was selected by Ansel Adams in 1929, who was director of the pageant at that time.

Lyrics

1.Angelus ad virginem The angel, coming secretly

Subintrans in conclave. to the Virgin's room

Virginis formidinem Calming the Virgin's fears, he said:

Demulcens inquit "Ave." "Hail"

Ave regina virginum, Hail, Queen of Virgins!


Coeli terraeque dominum You shall conceive the Lord of Heaven and Earth

Concipies

Et paries and give birth,

Intacta,whithout being touched,

Salutem hominum. to the Salvation of mankind;

Tu porta coeli facta you, made the Gateway of Heaven,

Medela criminum. the cure for sins".

2. Quomodo conciperem, How shall I conceive,

quae virum non cognovi? seeing that I know not a man?

Qualiter infringerem, How shall make an infraction

quae firma mente vovi?, I who made a vow with my firm mind ?

'Spiritus sancti gratia The grace of the Holy ghost

Perficiet haec omnia; will do all this;

Ne timeas, don't be afraid

sed gaudeas, But be pleased

secura,and safe

quod castimonia because chastity

Manebit in te pura will remain in you, pure

Dei potentia.power of God

3. Ad haec virgo nobilis "To these words the noble virgin"

Respondens inquit ei; "answered to him"

Ancilla sum humilis 'I am the humble handmaiden'

Omnipotentis Dei. 'Of the all-powerful God'

Tibi coelesti nuntio, 'By your heavenly announcement'

Tanta secreti conscio, 'I am made aware of such secrets'

Consentiens "I am in agreement"

Et cupiens "and I want"

Videre "to see"

factum quod audio, "what I hear done"

Parata sum parere. "I'm ready to obey"

Dei consilio. "God's will"

4. Angelus disparuit "The angel disappeared"

Et statim puellaris "and at once"

Uterus intumuit "the womb of the maiden swelled"

Vi partus salutaris. "by the force of the laying in of salvation"

Qui, circumdatus utero The one who, protected in thy womb

Novem mensium numero, during nine months

Hinc Exiit from here got out

Et iniit and the conflict began

Conflictum,

Affigens humero He fixed his shoulder

Crucem, qua dedit ictum On the cross, by which he gave a blow

Hosti mortifero. to the mortal Enemy

5. Eia Mater Domini, "Come on, mother of the Lord"

Quae pacem reddidisti "who has given back peace"

Angelis et homini, "to angels and man"

Cum Christum genuisti; "when you bore Christ".

Tuum exora filium. "Pray your Son"

Ut se nobis propitium "to be good to us"

Exhibeat, "Let Him show"

Et deleat "and wash away"

Peccata; "our sins"

Praestans auxilium giving help

Vita frui beata to enjoy a happy life

Post hoc exsilium. "after this exile"

Middle English version

A 14th middle-English version begins:

Gabriel fram Heven-King / Sent to the Maide sweete,

Broute hir blisful tiding / And fair he gan hir greete:

'Heil be thu, ful of grace aright! / For Godes Son, this Heven Light,

For mannes love / Will man bicome /And take / Fles of thee,

Maide bright, / Manken free for to make / Of sen and devles might.'

Source

• http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/NonEnglish/angelus_ad_virginem.htm