Regina Caeli

LatineThe Latin text

Regína cæli, lætáre, allelúia.
Quia quem meruísti portáre, allelúia.
Resurréxit, sicut dixit, allelúia.
Ora pro nobis Deum, allelúia.

EnglishTranslation

Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia. For He whom thou didst merit to bear, alleluia, has risen as He said, alleluia. Pray for us to God, alleluia.

Anonymous, 12th century — the complete antiphon

I

The antiphon of Easter

Regina Caeli is one of the four seasonal antiphons of the Blessed Virgin, and it belongs entirely to Eastertide. Where the other Marian antiphons are gentle or sorrowful, this one is pure exultation: four short lines, each ringing with alleluia, calling Our Lady to rejoice because her Son is risen.

The logic of the antiphon is tender. The Church does not merely announce the Resurrection; it turns to the mother and asks her to be glad — for the One she carried, and watched die, is alive. Grief is answered at its source.

II

Its history and legend

The antiphon dates to around the twelfth century. A gentle legend tells that St Gregory the Great heard angels sing its first three lines during a plague procession in Rome, and added the fourth himself — 'Pray for us to God' — whereupon the plague lifted. Like many such stories, it is loved for what it captures rather than for its history.

From the Middle Ages the antiphon has closed Compline, the Church's night prayer, throughout the Easter season, and has been sung standing — for one does not kneel in Paschal joy.

III

When it is prayed

Regina Caeli is prayed from Easter Sunday until Pentecost. During this season it replaces the Angelus at morning, noon, and evening, so that the bells of the whole day ring with the Resurrection rather than the Incarnation.

It is sung standing and, by custom, without kneeling even at its versicles — the body itself confessing that the tomb is empty.

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Questions

On the Regina Caeli.

What does Regina Caeli mean?

It means 'Queen of heaven.' The antiphon calls the Blessed Virgin to rejoice because her Son has risen from the dead.

When is Regina Caeli prayed?

Throughout the Easter season, from Easter Sunday to Pentecost, where it replaces the Angelus and closes Compline.

Why is it sung standing?

Standing is the posture of Easter joy and of the Resurrection. During Eastertide the Church does not kneel for this antiphon, confessing bodily that Christ is risen.

Repertorium

The other chants.

All chants →

The Penitential CryKyrie EleisonThe Cry for Mercy The Antiphon of MortalityMedia VitaIn the Midst of Life The Hymn of InvocationVeni Creator SpiritusThe Invocation of the Spirit The Marian AntiphonSalve ReginaThe Evening Antiphon The Sequence of JudgmentDies IraeThe Day of Wrath The Cry of AdventRorate CaeliThe Cry of Advent A Child Is BornPuer Natus EstA Child Is Born The Lenten PleaAttende DomineThe Lenten Plea The Hymn of the SacramentPange LinguaThe Hymn of the Sacrament The Golden SequenceVeni Sancte SpiritusThe Golden Sequence The Hidden GodheadAdoro Te DevoteThe Hidden Godhead Hail, True BodyAve Verum CorpusHail, True Body Star of the SeaAve Maris StellaStar of the Sea The Great ThanksgivingTe DeumThe Great Thanksgiving