REGINA CAELI

Russian Icon of the Queen of Heaven

Sixty years ago this year, I was already singing the Regina Caeli.  I don’t know what it was exactly but I do know why I was singing it with the other children.  At age 4, I was an ANGEL of the traditional SUGAT SA MINGLANILLA which is now cinematically blotted out by a bogus sword duel to the death between Archangels Lucifer and Gabriel in Easter.

But the Regina Caeli, our song of praise, in the tune as was taught to us by maestro-cantor Kianong Bas of Tulay stays fresh in my memory.  Although no longer complete as I sung it with the junior angels, it is still my marching song, a captivating melody that never failed to refresh my soul for the Mother of God and Queen of Heaven.

Who Wrote the Regina Caeli

(from Preces-Latinae.org)

“The author of Regina Caeli is unknown, but by virtue of its presence (or absence) in manuscripts, it had to have been composed sometime between the 9th and 12th centuries. One possible author in that time period is Pope Gregory V (+998). Its original use appears to have been in Rome where it was used as an Antiphon for Vespers at Easter. Today the Regina Caeli is used as hymn of joy during the Easter Season (Easter Sunday until Trinity Sunday) when it is used in place of the Angelus and prescribed to be recited at Compline.

This is one of four Marian antiphons, with following versicles and prayers, traditionally said or sung after night prayer, immediately before going to sleep. It is said throughout Eastertide. (That is, from Easter Day through Pentecost, the seventh Sunday after Easter.  The Regina caeli is also said in place of the Angelus during Eastertide.”

The Legend of the Song

“Perhaps the most interesting legend surrounding the prayer has it being composed, in part, by St. Gregory the Great. The legend has it that in the year 596, during Easter time, a pestilence was ravaging Rome. St. Gregory the Great requested a procession be held to pray that the pestilence be stopped. On the appointed day of the procession he assembled with his clergy at dawn at the church of Ara Coeli. Holding in his hand the icon of our Lady that was said to have been painted by St. Luke, he and his clergy started out in procession to St. Peter's. As he passed the Castle of Hadrian, as it was called in those days, voices were heard from above singing the Regina Caeli. The astonished Pope, enraptured with the angelic singing, replied in a loud voice: "Ora pro nobis Deum. Alleluia!" At that moment an angel appeared in a glorious light, sheathed the sword of pestilence in its scabbard, and from that day the pestilence ceased. In honor of this miraculous event, the name of the castle was then changed to Sant' Angelo and the words of the angelic hymn were inscribed upon the roof of the Church of Ara Coeli.”

The Regina Caeli Prayer

(from ETWN.com)

V.  Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia.             Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.

R.  Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia.   For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.

V.  Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia.           Has risen, as he said, alleluia.

R.  Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.              Pray for us to God, alleluia.

V.  Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, alleluia. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.

R.  Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.    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.