Regina caeli

Text

The antiphon itself consists of four lines: Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia, Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia: Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia. The Son you merited to bear, alleluia, Has risen as he said, alleluia. Pray to God for us, alleluia.

Compline, as revised in 1969 after the Second Vatican Council, ends with the antiphon alone. In the earlier Roman Breviary and in recitation at Angelus time during Eastertide, the following versicle and the following prayer are added to the antiphon:

A verse translation in 7.7.7.7 metre used in some Anglican churches is usually sung to the hymn tune known as the Easter Hymn "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" (Jesus Christ is risen today) or the hymn tune "Ave Virgo Virginum" (Hail Virgin of virgins):

:℣. Joy to thee, O Queen of Heaven. Alleluia! :℟. He whom Thou wast meet to bear, Alleluia! :℣. As He promised hath arisen, Alleluia! :℟. Pour for us to God thy prayer. Alleluia!

:℣. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia. :℟. For the Lord is risen indeed, alleluia. :Let us pray: :O God, who through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, didst vouchsafe to give joy to the whole world: 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.

History

The authorship of "Regina caeli" is unknown. It has been traced back to the 12th century and is found in an antiphonary of now in St Peter's Basilica in Rome. In the first half of the 13th century it was in Franciscan use, after compline.

Jacobus de Voragine's thirteenth-century Golden Legend includes a story that, during a procession with an image of the Blessed Virgin that was held to pray for the ending of a pestilence in Rome, angels were heard singing the first three lines of the "Regina caeli" antiphon, to which Pope Gregory the Great (590−604) thereupon added the fourth, after which he saw, atop what would consequently become known as the Castel Sant'Angelo, a vision of an angel sheathing his sword, thus signifying the cessation of the plague.

Polyphonic settings

As well as the plainsong melodies (a simple and an ornate form) associated with it, the "Regina caeli" has, since the 16th century, often been provided with polyphonic settings. Pierre de Manchicourt's setting was published in 1539. Tomás Luis de Victoria composed a setting for five voices in 1572 and another for eight voices in 1576. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina also composed at least two settings of the antiphon. A setting for four voices by Charles de Courbe dates from 1622, and Lully's motet Regina coeli, laetare dates from 1684. 7 Regina caeli, H.16, H.30, H.31, H.32, H.32 a, H.32 b, H.46, (1670–1680) have been composed by Marc-Antoine Charpentier. There are two settings by François Giroust, three settings by the young Mozart (K. 108, K. 127, and K. 276), and one by Brahms (Op. 37 #3).

Indulgence

Benedict XIV established the same indulgences as the Angelus, i.e. those granted by Benedict XIII with the indult of 14 September 1724: plenary indulgence once a month, on a day of one’s choice, to those who, having confessed, contrited and communicated, had devoutly recited the prayer in the morning, at noon and in the evening, at the ringing of the bell, and 100 days of indulgence in the same way to those who had recited it in the other days, with the faculty not to lose the indulgence for those who recited the Angelus without knowing the Regina Caeli and subsequent faculty granted on 5 December 1727 to the religious busy at the ringing of the bell to recite the prayer at another time.

Leo XIII (1878-1903) modified the conditions for obtaining the indulgence, making them easier. Until the reform of indulgences implemented by Pope Paul VI in 1967 the same indulgence was still granted.

The Enchiridion Indulgentiarum currently includes a partial indulgence for the faithful who recite the Regina Caeli at the three prescribed times of day during the Easter season. Obtaining the indulgence does not require the recitation of the Gloria Patri and what follows. This concession is given for texts approved by the Holy See, therefore it is necessary that the texts in the vernacular are approved by the Episcopal Conferences and subsequently confirmed by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Therefore, differing translations are not indulged and can possibly be used for private performance. As with all indulgences, it is necessary to be in a state of grace; furthermore, the indulgence is applicable to oneself or the Poor Souls in Purgatory, but not to other living people on earth.

References

References

1. "Finally one of the antiphons of the Blessed Virgin Mary is said. In Eastertide this is always the Regina caeli" ([https://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/Rites/GILH.pdf General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours, p. 18, paragraph 92]).
2. (1975). "Magna Carta Latina". Argo Books.
3. Loyola Press: [https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/prayer/traditional-catholic-prayers/prayers-honoring-mary/regina-caeli-queen-of-heaven-prayer "Regina Caeli"]. Re-accessed Oct 2021.
4. Roman Missal, Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, IV. In Easter Time
5. Heinz, Andreas. (1997). "Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche". [[Verlag Herder]].
6. Jacobus de Voragine. (1995). "The Golden Legend: Readings on the Saints". Princeton University Press.
7. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-PItkFqooA An unidentified polyphonic setting]. Youtube. Re-accessed Oct 2021.
8. {{IMSLP. Regina coeli laetare (Manchicourt, Pierre de)
9. {{IMSLP. Regina caeli laetare for 5 voices (Victoria, Tomás Luis de)
10. {{IMSLP. Regina caeli laetare for 8 voices (Victoria, Tomás Luis de)
11. [https://schola-sainte-cecile.com/ressources-choristes/deCourbes/ReginaCoeli/ReginaCoeli.pdf ''Cantiques spirituels nouvellement mis en musique à IIII, V, VI, VIIet VIII parties par le Sr de Courbes''], Paris, Pierre Ballard ed. 1622. (F-Pn Rés. Vm7. 273)
12. {{IMSLP. 3 Sacred Choruses, Op.37 (Brahms, Johannes)
13. Article titled ''Indulgenza'' (indulgence) in [https://books.google.com/books?id=XQ5NAAAAcAAJ Biblioteca sacra ovvero ''Dizionario universale delle scienze ecclesiastiche che comprende la storia della religione, della sua istituzione e dei suoi dogmi; la storia parimenti della Chiesa nella sua disciplina, ne' riti, nelle cerimonie e ne' sacramenti; la teologia dogmatica e morale, la decisione dei casi di coscienza, il diritto canonico; i santi e i principali personaggi dell'Antica e della Nuova Legge, gli scrittori piu' illustri in materia di religione, i papi, i concilj, le sedi episcopali di tutta la cristianita'; finalmente la storia degli ordini religiosi, degli scismi e delle eresie, ora e per la prima volta in italiano tradotta ed ampliata da una società di ecclesiastici, vol. 11''], Ranieri -Fanfani, 1835, pp. 193-194
14. See Paul VI, ''[http://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/it/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p- vi_apc_01011967_indulgentiarum-doctrina.html Apostolic Constitution «Indulgentiarum Doctrina»]'', on ''[http://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/it.html The Holy See]'', 1 January 1967.
15. Cf. ''Eternal Maxims'', 80th edition, Libreria Editrice “Aquileia”, Udine, 1922, p. 8.
16. See [Paenitentiaria Apostolica, ''[http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/tribunals/apost_penit/documents/rc_trib_appen_doc_20020826_enchiridion-indulgentiarum_lt.html Enchiridion indulgentiarum]'', quarto editur, 16 July 1999, on ''[http://www.vatican.va/content/romancuria/it/tribunali/penitenzieria-apostolica.index.html The Holy See]'', ''Concessiones'' 17, § 2.
17. Cf. [[Apostolic Penitentiary]], ''[http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/tribunals/apost_penit/documents/rc_trib_appen_pro_20000129_indulgence_it.html The gift of Indulgence]'', on ''[http://www.vatican.va/ content/romancuria/it/tribunali/penitenzieria-apostolica/documenti.html The Holy See]'', Rome, 29 January 2000, nn. 3.7. URL consulted on 11 February 2021.