Angelus ad virginem

Probably Franciscan in origin, it was brought to Britain by French friars in the 13th century. It is said to have originally consisted of 27 stanzas, with each following stanza beginning with the consecutive letter of the alphabet.

Surviving manuscripts may be found in a c. 1361 Dublin Troper (a music book for use at Mass) and a 13th or 14th century vellum Sequentiale that may have been connected with the Church of Addle, Yorkshire. Its lyrics also appear in the works of John Audelay (perhaps a priest, he definitely spent the last years of his life at Haughmond Abbey, where he wrote for the monks), in a group of four Marian poems.

It appears in Geoffrey Chaucer's Miller's Tale, where the scholar Nicholas sings it in Latin to the accompaniment of his psaltery:

And over all there lay a psaltery

Whereon he made an evening's melody,

Playing so sweetly that the chamber rang;

And Angelus ad virginem he sang;

And after that he warbled the King's Note:

Often in good voice was his merry throat.

1.

Angelus ad virginem,

Subintrans in conclave,

Virginis formidinem

Demulcens, inquit "Ave!

Ave, regina virginum:

Coeli terraeque dominum

Concipies et paries intacta

Salutem hominum;

Tu porta coeli facta,

Medela criminum."

The angel came to the Virgin,

entering secretly into her room;

calming the Virgin's fear, 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."

2.

"Quomodo conciperem,

Quae virum non cognovi?

Qualiter infringerem,

Quae firma mente vovi?"

"Spiritus sancti gratia

Perficiet haec omnia.

Ne timeas, sed gaudeas

Secura, quod castimonia

Manebit in te pura

Dei potentia."

"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."

3.

Ad haec, virgo nobilis

Respondens inquit ei,

"Ancilla sum humilis

Omnipotentis Dei.

Tibi coelesti nuntio,

Tanti secreti conscio,

Consentiens et cupiens videre

Factum quod audio,

Parata sum parere

Dei consilio."

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."

4.

Angelus disparuit

Et statim puellaris

Uterus intumuit

Vi partus salutaris.

Qui, circumdatus utero

Novem mensium numero,

Hinc exiit et iniit conflictum,

Affigens humero

Crucem, qua dedit ictum

Hosti mortifero.

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.

5.

Eia Mater Domini,

Quae pacem reddidisti

Angelis et homini

Cum Christum genuisti!

Tuum exora filium

Ut se nobis propitium

Exhibeat, et deleat peccata,

Praestans auxilium

Vita frui beata

Post hoc exsilium.

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.

This is the music of the carol, as it is known today, with the first verse of the Latin words:

For many years, "Angelus Ad Virginem" was the first piece of music sung at the annual Bracebridge Dinner, a lavish Christmas feast held at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park. It was sung as the guests entered the dining room. This piece of music was selected by Ansel Adams in 1929, who was director of the pageant at that time.

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