Angelus ad virginem

Angelus ad virginem was written for the National Lutheran Choir in 2010. It weaves together several versions of an Medieval Irish carol. The anonymous Latin text is from the 14th century.

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.”

“Quomodo conciperem
Quae virum non cognovi?
Qualiter infringerem
Quod firma mente vovi?”
“Spiritus Sancti gratia
Perficiet haec omnia;
Ne timeas, sed gaudeas,
Secura, quod castimonia
Manebit in te pura
Dei potentia!”

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.”

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.

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 exilium.

*****

Gabriel to Mary came,
And entered at her dwelling,
With his salutation glad
Her maiden fears dispelling,
“All hail, thou queen of virgins bright!
God, Lord of earth and heaven’s height,
Thy very Son
Shall soon be born in pureness,
The Savior of mankind.
Thou are the gate of heaven bright,
The sinners’ healer kind.”

“How should I a mother be
That am to man a stranger?
How should I my strong resolve,
My solemn vows endanger?”
“Pow’r from the Holy Ghost on high
Shall bring to pass this mystery.
Then have no fear:
Be of good cheer, believing
That still thy chastity
In God’s almighty keeping
Shall all unsullied be.”

Then to him the maid replied,
With noble mien supernal;
“Lo! the humble handmaid I
Of God the Lord eternal!
With thee, bright messenger of heav’n,
By whom this wondrous news is giv’n,
I well agree
And long to see fulfilled
Thy gracious prophecy.
As God my Lord doth will it,
So be it unto me!”

Straightaway God’s messenger
From Mary then departed.
Thereon she conceived a Son,
The Holy Ghost imparted.
In her was Christ contained anon,
True God, true man, in flesh and bone;
Born of her too,
When time was due;
Who then did redeem us for His own.
And brought us out of bondage,
And died for us to atone.

Hail! Thou Mother of the Lord,
Who bring’st of gifts the rarest,
Peace to angels and to men,
When Christ the Lord thou bearest!
Do thou, we pray, entreat thy Son
For us our long’d redemption
Himself to win,
And from our sin release us;
His succor for to give,
That, when we hence are taken,
We too in heav’n may live.

(W. A. C. Pickard-Cambridge: vv. 1-3, 5; Carol Barnett: v. 4)