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Salve Regina: The Hail Holy Queen in Latin
Read the Salve Regina in Latin with an English translation. Learn when this Marian antiphon is prayed, its Rosary use, history, and the meaning of Advocata nostra.
Part of the Latin prayers prayer collection.
In brief
The Salve Regina is a traditional Marian antiphon also known in English as the Hail Holy Queen. It is prayed after the Rosary and is traditionally associated with the period from Trinity Sunday until Advent in the Roman liturgical cycle.
Latin and English text
| Latin | English |
| --- | --- |
| Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae, | Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy, |
| vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve. | our life, our sweetness, and our hope. |
| Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Hevae. | To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve. |
| Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle. | To you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. |
| Eia ergo, advocata nostra, | Turn then, our Advocate, |
| illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte. | turn your eyes of mercy toward us. |
| Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, | And after this our exile, |
| nobis post hoc exsilium ostende. | show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. |
| O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria. | O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. |
Pray the Latin form as a continuous text:
Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae, vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Hevae. Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle. Eia ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte. Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende. O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.
Source and tradition: traditional Marian antiphon. Spelling may vary, especially Iesus and Jesus, and musical settings may divide or repeat lines.
When is the Salve Regina prayed?
- After the Rosary: many Catholics use it as the concluding Marian prayer.
- As an antiphon: it is traditionally associated with the season from Trinity Sunday until Advent.
- In Night Prayer: it may be used at the end of Compline according to the liturgical season and local practice.
- In private devotion: it may be prayed at any time when a person wants to commend a need or community to God's mercy through Mary's intercession.
The other traditional Marian antiphons have their own seasons: Alma Redemptoris Mater, Ave Regina Caelorum, and Regina Caeli. Follow the calendar or prayer book used by your parish when exact liturgical observance matters.
Key phrase: Advocata nostra
Advocata nostra means "our Advocate" or "our intercessor." In Catholic prayer, this language asks Mary to pray for us. It does not make Mary divine or place her above God. The line immediately asks her to turn her merciful eyes toward us and then asks that Jesus be shown to us, keeping Christ at the center of the petition.
A note on history and chant
The Salve Regina is often associated with Hermannus Contractus, or Hermann of Reichenau, an eleventh-century monk and scholar. Attribution is commonly stated as tradition rather than an indisputable modern authorship record.
The antiphon has both simple and solemn Gregorian chant settings. If you are preparing to sing it, use a reliable parish, choir, or liturgical music source and confirm which setting your community follows. This page provides text and context, not a substitute for a musical score or official edition.
Sources & Tradition
Frequently asked questions
What is the Salve Regina?
It is a traditional Latin Marian antiphon known in English as the Hail Holy Queen. It asks Mary to intercede for people who cry out in hardship and directs attention to Jesus.
When is the Salve Regina traditionally sung?
It is traditionally used from Trinity Sunday until Advent in the Roman liturgical cycle, and it is also widely prayed after the Rosary. Local calendars, communities, and musical settings may apply the tradition differently.
What does Advocata nostra mean?
It means "our Advocate" or "our intercessor." The phrase asks Mary to pray for us; it does not mean that Mary replaces God or possesses divine power.
Can I pray the Salve Regina without singing it?
Yes. It is an antiphon that may be sung or recited. Read the translation first if you are learning the Latin so the prayer remains an act of understanding and attention.
Who wrote the Salve Regina?
The prayer is often attributed to Hermannus Contractus, but the historical attribution is normally presented as a tradition rather than a certainty. Its use in Catholic prayer and chant developed over time.