Regina Coeli

Regina Coeli is a Marian Antiphon sung during the Easter season. Its authorship is unknown. Legend has it that Saint Gregory the Great heard the first three lines of the prayer being sung by angels.

The prayer and a translation is provided below:

---

Regina coeli laetare, Alleluia, 
Quia quem meruisti portare. Alleluia, 
Resurrexit sicut dixit, Alleluia. 
Ora pro nobis Deum. Alleluia.

---

Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia: 
For He whom you merited to bear, alleluia, 
Has risen, as He said, alleluia. 
Pray for us to God, alleluia.

In certain Roman Catholic and High Church Anglican churches, the following version is said and sung, in place of Angelus Domini, the first four lines going rather badly to the tune 'Easter Hymn', and the last two being chanted:

Joy to thee, O Queen of Heaven, Alleluia
He whom thou wast meet to bear, Alleluia
As he promised, hath arisen, Alleluia
Pour for us to him thy prayer, Alleluia

Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia
For the Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia.

Everything Hymnal

(The Latin for the last two lines is:

Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, Alleluia,
Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.)