If you walk into a monastery during Eastertide, you won't hear the Angelus. You will hear the monks belting out the Regina Caeli.
This ancient antiphon (dating back to the 12th century) replaces the Angelus from Easter Sunday until Pentecost. It is a prayer of pure, unadulterated joy. We are telling Mary: "Stop crying! Your Son is alive!"
"Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia!"
The Prayer (English)
V. Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia. R. For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia. V. Has risen, as he said, alleluia. R. Pray for us to God, alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia. R. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.
Let us pray. O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Prayer (Latin)
V. Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia. R. Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia. V. Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia. R. Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.
V. Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, alleluia. R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.
Oremus...
Legend of St. Gregory the Great
A beautiful legend says that during a plague in Rome in the 6th century, Pope Gregory the Great was leading a procession with an icon of Mary. He heard angels singing the first three lines of the Regina Caeli. He fell to his knees and added the fourth line: "Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia!" The plague ceased immediately.
Why We Pray It
- Solidarity with Mary: She suffered the most on Good Friday; she deserves to rejoice the most on Easter Sunday.
- Focus on Resurrection: The Angelus focuses on the Incarnation ("The Word was made flesh"). The Regina Caeli focuses on the Resurrection ("He has risen as He said").
- Habit of Joy: Saying "Alleluia" four times in 30 seconds rewires your brain for hope.
Sing it loud. Sing it proud. Learn the chant melody on the MyPrayerTower app.