Corpus Christi Blog

We have reached the midway point of a five-part series in which we are gaining a deeper understanding of the Salve Regina. Sometimes, we become so accustomed to saying certain prayers that we don’t stop to think about what we really mean by our words. The hymn is a prayer to Mary, imploring her under various titles and asking for her intercession. We will now move on to the next two stanzas of the hymn to better understand what we are praying for.

Last week, we began a five-part series in which we are dissecting the text of the Salve Regina to gain a deeper understanding of the hymn. We covered Mary’s roles as Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, Our Life, and Our Sweetness. We will now move on to the next set of words we pray in the Salve Regina.

One of our most beloved Catholic Marian hymns or prayers is the Salve Regina, Latin for “Hail, Holy Queen.” This hymn, composed in Latin in the 11th century, is sung or recited as part of the Liturgy of the Hours (especially at Compline) and serves as the final prayer of the Rosary. Since its true author is unknown, its authorship is widely regarded as anonymous today. Tradition largely attributes it to Hermann of Reichenau (1013-1054), a German Benedictine monk. The Cistercians and Dominicans helped popularize the hymn in the 12th and 13th centuries, and it was officially added to the Roman Breviary by Pope Pius V in 1568. Like all Marian prayers, the Salve Regina emphasizes Mary’s various roles by virtue of her being Jesus’s mother and asking for her intercession.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Last November and December, 187 parishioners took the time to complete the Disciple Maker Index (DMI) Survey. This survey was conducted in parishes throughout our Diocese and across the country as part of a broader effort to better understand and strengthen parish life. I would like to begin by sincerely thanking everyone who participated.