Salve Regina

8th Century Byzantine mosaic of Mary, Mother of Mercy,
in the Church of San Marco, Florence
(it is believed to have come to Florence from St. Peter's in Rome)

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.

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,

Our life, our sweetness and our hope.

To you do we cry,

Poor banished children of Eve;

To you do we send up our sighs,

Mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.

Turn then, most gracious advocate,

Your eyes of mercy toward us;

And after this our exile,

Show us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving,

O sweet Virgin Mary.