Ave Maria

“Cusco-Style” picture of the Virgin, at our home, with flowers

We’ve come to that wonderful time of year when summer continues to run its course — but there are intimations of transition, which I feel in the late evening or early morning hours. There is a certain crispness, a coolness in the air, that presages a change in the weather.

I also love the liturgical markers that come along with the seasons of the year. Last Sunday was the Sunday after August 15, which is a special feast day of the Blessed Virgin Mary. At Compline we have a tradition of singing the “Ave Maria” by Franz Biebl as our anthem. He set to music the words of the prayer called the Angelus, which has been prayed since the Middle Ages.

Before giving you a link to the podcast of last week’s service, I wanted to call your attention to a new page on this site, which you can see by clicking on the tab, “Where to experience Compline.” This is the page of links that used to be on the Seattle Compline Choir website, but is now moved here. I’ve scrubbed all the links since I first posted this blog – adding new entries that I’ve found and deleting groups that are no longer active, and I will continue to update the list.

And now, here is last week’s podcast. If you wish to listen to the “Ave Maria” only, just move the slider over toward the end of the service, at about 25:55.

Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ, Et conceptit de Spiritu Sancto.	The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary, And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.	Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Ecce Ancilla Domini. Fiat mihi secundum Verbum tuum.	Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to thy Word.
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.	Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Et Verbum caro factum est. Et habitavit in nobis.	And the Word was made flesh. And dwelt amongst us.
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 nostræ. Amen.	Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.