– St. Gregory Palamas
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Every week we'll bring in a new inspired hymn, and try to draw out some of its meanings. Enjoy!
January 18th, 2006
These are the
words of the "Hail Mary", which have been spoken billions of times in a
continuous stream through the mouths of all sorts of people, in all
ages and all stages of life. They are spoken usually as part of the
Rosary. Many great saints have said that the essence of the "Hail Mary"
could not possibly be comprehended even by an angelic mind. But here
are some thoughts about it, some of which is reflected in the music.
Ave Maria
"Ave" means "Hail" - in Greek, Xaire. It is a greeting of honour, usually given to those who are far above you in dignity or rank. The Romans used this word to address the Caesar. Ave is also the reverse of Eva, which is the Latin for "Eve".
"Maria" is the Virgin Mary. Her name has many meanings, and can be found in many languages.
The melody of these words, as you can hear, expresses awe, and almost caution.
Gratia Plena
"Gratia" means "grace" or "favour", and includes the idea of thankfulness.
"Plena" means "full"
Together they are translated "full of grace" or "full with grace"
The hymn spends a long time pronouncing "gratia" - the same time it takes to say "Ave Maria", and it is expressed with greater love, devotion, and beauty. She is said to be "full" of grace. What does this mean?
Dominus tecum
"Dominus" means "Lord" or "Master". A Lord or Master is one who rules, and The Lord spoken of here is obviously the ruler of everything.
"tecum" means "with you"
Together they are translated "The Lord is with you".
The hymn, you will notice, sings "Dominus tecum" three times. That is because when the angel said "the Lord is with you", this means that the Holy Trinity is with you. The image of the Holy Trinity is imprinted on all of nature, but in a special way on humans, as many philosophers and saints clearly explain. However, this image is quite defaced and mixed up in us, and therefore so is our ability to recognize it in nature.
These words are sung with happiness and especially near the end the melody sounds complete - but not quite complete. What does that mean to say that the Lord is "with you" to Holy Mary? How close does that mean?
Benedicta tu in mulieribus
"Benedicta" means "blessed", or literally "spoken well of". It is the opposite of "maledicta" or "cursed"
"tu" means "you"
"in" means "among"
"mulieribus" means "women"
Together they are translated "Blessed are you among women"
The hymn sings these words twice, with a seriousness which is unexpected for these words. Also, why mention "among women" as if it does not include men as well? It must be referring to women for a special reason. They are the ones through whom we all come into the world. It was also a woman who first picked the fruit from the tree, the fruit which gives knowledge of good and evil, in order to be like God. And God said to her, "in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." And what kind of a man is this whom she desired? To him God said, "Cursed be the ground because of you."
Now when the angel told Holy Mary that she would conceive a child, during the time when she was engaged to be married, Holy Mary said clearly to the angel "I do not know man."
Et benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus
"Et" means "and"
"benedictus" means "blessed"
"fructus" means "fruit"
"ventris" means "womb"
"tui" means "your"
"Iesus" means "Jesus", or "God saves"
Together, they are translated "and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus"
The hymn is also serious at this point, to the point of expressing fear and alarm at the words "ventris tui Iesus". Holy Mary is called blessed among women in the earlier line, and here the fruit of her womb is likewise called blessed. Now to the serpent who had tempted the first woman, and whom God cursed, He had said, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed." Now Holy Mary is called blessed, and the fruit of her womb is called blessed. And this figure of speech "fruit" is very fitting here. Fruits hang on trees. The first fruit hung on a tree, and likewise Christ himself was suspended in the air on wood, crucified. This is probably why these words are sung with this kind of emotion.
Sancta Maria
"Sancta" means "holy"
"Maria" means "Mary"
The words "ventris tui Iesus", which are sung with a feeling of suffering flow imperceptibly into the words "sancta Maria". It can be said that practically every woman who is becoming a mother gains some holiness through the pain of childbirth, through the sheer sacrifice involved. But it can be said much more of Holy Mary, that by becoming the Mother of Christ, and watching Him die on the cross, and hearing Him entrust a new child to her, it can much more be said that she became "Holy" through this experience.
Mater Dei
"Mater" means "Mother"
"Dei" means "of God"
"Mother of God" is perhaps the greatest thing we can call Holy Mary. She is the Mother of God because Christ is God, one in being with the Father and with the Holy Spirit. God is the one to whom every creature prays, and she is His mother. However, she also experienced him being crucified on account of our sins.
Ora pro nobis peccatoribus
"Ora" means "pray"
"pro" means "for"
"nobis" means "us"
"peccatoribus" means "sinners"
What else can we ask her to do but pray for us, and what else can we refer to ourselves as, but sinners?
Nunc et in hora mortis nostrae
"Nunc" means "now"
"et" means "and"
"in" means "in"
"hora" means "the hour"
"mortis" means "of death"
"nostrae" means "our"
Together, they are translated "Now and in the hour of our death"
Just as Christ throughout his life, and in the trial of His death, had her at his side, so these words ask her to be at our side also during our life, and especially at our death. These words are sung twice - the first time it ends on an incomplete note, but the second time it is finished.
Amen.
Likewise, this word is sung twice - once ending on an incomplete note, and the second time it is finished.
Ave Maria
Gratia Plena
Dominus tecum
Benedicta tu in mulieribus
Et benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus
Sancta Maria
Mater Dei
Ora pro nobis peccatoribus
Nunc et in hora mortis nostrae.
Amen.
Ave Maria
"Ave" means "Hail" - in Greek, Xaire. It is a greeting of honour, usually given to those who are far above you in dignity or rank. The Romans used this word to address the Caesar. Ave is also the reverse of Eva, which is the Latin for "Eve".
"Maria" is the Virgin Mary. Her name has many meanings, and can be found in many languages.
The melody of these words, as you can hear, expresses awe, and almost caution.
Gratia Plena
"Gratia" means "grace" or "favour", and includes the idea of thankfulness.
"Plena" means "full"
Together they are translated "full of grace" or "full with grace"
The hymn spends a long time pronouncing "gratia" - the same time it takes to say "Ave Maria", and it is expressed with greater love, devotion, and beauty. She is said to be "full" of grace. What does this mean?
Dominus tecum
"Dominus" means "Lord" or "Master". A Lord or Master is one who rules, and The Lord spoken of here is obviously the ruler of everything.
"tecum" means "with you"
Together they are translated "The Lord is with you".
The hymn, you will notice, sings "Dominus tecum" three times. That is because when the angel said "the Lord is with you", this means that the Holy Trinity is with you. The image of the Holy Trinity is imprinted on all of nature, but in a special way on humans, as many philosophers and saints clearly explain. However, this image is quite defaced and mixed up in us, and therefore so is our ability to recognize it in nature.
These words are sung with happiness and especially near the end the melody sounds complete - but not quite complete. What does that mean to say that the Lord is "with you" to Holy Mary? How close does that mean?
Benedicta tu in mulieribus
"Benedicta" means "blessed", or literally "spoken well of". It is the opposite of "maledicta" or "cursed"
"tu" means "you"
"in" means "among"
"mulieribus" means "women"
Together they are translated "Blessed are you among women"
The hymn sings these words twice, with a seriousness which is unexpected for these words. Also, why mention "among women" as if it does not include men as well? It must be referring to women for a special reason. They are the ones through whom we all come into the world. It was also a woman who first picked the fruit from the tree, the fruit which gives knowledge of good and evil, in order to be like God. And God said to her, "in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." And what kind of a man is this whom she desired? To him God said, "Cursed be the ground because of you."
Now when the angel told Holy Mary that she would conceive a child, during the time when she was engaged to be married, Holy Mary said clearly to the angel "I do not know man."
Et benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus
"Et" means "and"
"benedictus" means "blessed"
"fructus" means "fruit"
"ventris" means "womb"
"tui" means "your"
"Iesus" means "Jesus", or "God saves"
Together, they are translated "and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus"
The hymn is also serious at this point, to the point of expressing fear and alarm at the words "ventris tui Iesus". Holy Mary is called blessed among women in the earlier line, and here the fruit of her womb is likewise called blessed. Now to the serpent who had tempted the first woman, and whom God cursed, He had said, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed." Now Holy Mary is called blessed, and the fruit of her womb is called blessed. And this figure of speech "fruit" is very fitting here. Fruits hang on trees. The first fruit hung on a tree, and likewise Christ himself was suspended in the air on wood, crucified. This is probably why these words are sung with this kind of emotion.
Sancta Maria
"Sancta" means "holy"
"Maria" means "Mary"
The words "ventris tui Iesus", which are sung with a feeling of suffering flow imperceptibly into the words "sancta Maria". It can be said that practically every woman who is becoming a mother gains some holiness through the pain of childbirth, through the sheer sacrifice involved. But it can be said much more of Holy Mary, that by becoming the Mother of Christ, and watching Him die on the cross, and hearing Him entrust a new child to her, it can much more be said that she became "Holy" through this experience.
Mater Dei
"Mater" means "Mother"
"Dei" means "of God"
"Mother of God" is perhaps the greatest thing we can call Holy Mary. She is the Mother of God because Christ is God, one in being with the Father and with the Holy Spirit. God is the one to whom every creature prays, and she is His mother. However, she also experienced him being crucified on account of our sins.
Ora pro nobis peccatoribus
"Ora" means "pray"
"pro" means "for"
"nobis" means "us"
"peccatoribus" means "sinners"
What else can we ask her to do but pray for us, and what else can we refer to ourselves as, but sinners?
Nunc et in hora mortis nostrae
"Nunc" means "now"
"et" means "and"
"in" means "in"
"hora" means "the hour"
"mortis" means "of death"
"nostrae" means "our"
Together, they are translated "Now and in the hour of our death"
Just as Christ throughout his life, and in the trial of His death, had her at his side, so these words ask her to be at our side also during our life, and especially at our death. These words are sung twice - the first time it ends on an incomplete note, but the second time it is finished.
Amen.
Likewise, this word is sung twice - once ending on an incomplete note, and the second time it is finished.