Angelus ad virginem facts for kids
Angelus ad virginem" is a very old song, or carol, from the Middle Ages. Its name is Latin for "The angel came to the virgin." You might also know it by its English title, "Gabriel, from Heven King Was to the Maide Sende." This carol tells the story of the Annunciation. This is when the archangel Gabriel visited the Virgin Mary. He told her she would become the mother of Jesus. The song's words are a poetic version of the Hail Mary prayer.
A Song from Long Ago
This carol likely started with the Franciscan friars. Friars were like monks who traveled and preached. French friars probably brought the song to Britain in the 1200s. It is believed that the original song had 27 verses. Each verse started with the next letter of the alphabet.
You can find old copies of this song in special music books. One copy is in a Dublin Troper from around 1360. A Troper was a music book used during church services. Another copy is in a very old vellum sequentiale. This book might have been used at the Church of Addle in Yorkshire. The words of the song also appear in poems by John Audelay. The famous writer Geoffrey Chaucer also mentioned it. In his story "The Miller's Tale" (around 1390), a scholar named Nicholas sings it in Latin. He plays a stringed instrument called a psaltery along with it.
The Words of the Song
The carol tells the story of the angel Gabriel's visit to Mary. It describes Mary's reaction and her acceptance of God's plan. It also talks about Jesus's birth and his mission to save people.
Here is the English version of the song's lyrics:
The angel came to the Virgin,
entering secretly into her room;
the Virgin's fear
calming, he said, "Hail!
Hail, queen of virgins:
you will conceive the Lord of heaven and earth
and bear him, still a virgin,
to be the salvation of mankind;
you will be made the gate of heaven,
the cure of sins."
"How can I conceive,
When I have never known a man?
How can I transgress
resolutions that I have vowed with a firm mind?"
"The grace of the Holy Spirit
shall do all this.
Do not be afraid, but rejoice
without a care, since your chastity
will remain in you unspoilt
through the power of God."
To this, the noble Virgin,
replying, said to him,
"I am the humble maidservant
of almighty God.
To you, heavenly messenger,
and bearer of such a great secret,
I give my consent, and wishing to see
done what I hear,
I am ready to obey
the will of God."
The angel vanished,
and at once the girl's
womb swelled
with the force of the pregnancy of salvation.
He, protected by the womb
for nine months in number,
left it and began the struggle,
fixing to his shoulder
a cross, with which he dealt the blow
to the deadly Enemy.
Hail, Mother of our Lord,
who brought peace back
to angels and men
when you bore Christ!
Pray your son
that he may show favor to us
and blot out our sins,
giving us help
to enjoy a blessed life
after this exile.
An Old English Version
There is also a version of the song from the 1300s written in Middle English. This was the English language spoken at that time. It begins like this:
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."
The Music
This section shows the musical notes for the carol. It includes the first verse of the Latin words. <score vorbis="1"> { \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"flute" \override Score.BarNumber #'transparent = ##t \key g \major \time 6/8 d4 b'8 d4 d8 | c4 b'8 a'4 a'8 | b'4 g'8 a'8 (g'8) fis'8 | g'4. g'4. | d4 b'8 d4 d8 | c4 b'8 a'4 a'8 | b'4 g'8 a'8 (g'8) fis'8 | g'4. g'4. | a'4. c4 c8 | \time 9/8 b'4 g'8 a'8 (b'8) a'8 g'4. | \time 6/8 a'4. c4 c8 | b'4 g'8 a'8 (g'8) a'8 | d'4. e'8 (fis'4) | g'4 fis'8 e'4 d'8 | g'4 e'8 g'8 (a'8) b'8 | b'8 (a'8 g'8) a'4 d'8 | e'4 f'8 e'8 (d'8) c'8 | d'4. e'8 (fis'4) | g'4 e'8 g'8 (a'8) b'8 | b'8 (a'8 g'8) a'4 d'8 | e'4 f'8 e'8 (d'8) c'8 | d'2. \bar"|." } \addlyrics { An -- ge -- lus ad vir -- gi -- nem, Sub -- in -- trans in con -- cla -- ve, Vir -- gi -- nis for -- mi -- di -- nem De -- mul -- cens, in -- quit 'A -- ve! A -- ve, re -- gi -- na vir -- gi -- num: Coe -- li terr -- ae -- que do -- mi -- num Con -- ci -- pi -- es et pa -- ri -- es in -- tac -- ta Sa -- lu -- tem ho -- mi -- num; Tu por -- ta coe -- li fac -- ta, Me -- de -- la cri -- mi -- num.'} </score>
