Solemn Salve Regina
Premonstratensian Chant Version
(January 2026)
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One of the most beautiful titles of Our Lady is “Mother of Mercy,” a title by which we so affectionately address her in the Salve Regina. As we chant this beautiful prayer, it is consoling to think of Our Lady bending down from Heaven as she lovingly enfolds each one of us in her mantle, protecting us from any harm that might befall us as we embark on our day's journey through the “valley of tears.” And, as she comes to us, we greet her with great joy. She is our Mother and our Queen! Knowing this, we cry out to Her in confidence:
“Hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, we, poor banished children of Eve...”
Yet, as we petition her further on, Our Lady's maternal solicitude goes beyond merely protecting us through our exile, she lightens our load by showing us her Son, the blessed fruit of her womb. In a sense, then, one could think of her as the “monstrance” par excellence, the one who most perfectly shows forth her beloved Son. But her love does not stop even there, but she longs to give us her Son, to bring us to Him so that we can be healed and receive salvation. She longs to bring us to God.
In our Community, we are blessed to chant the Salve Regina every morning before Holy Mass. It seems fitting that this be so, for who better is there to lead us to Jesus than His own Blessed Mother? She who accompanies us to the Altar of Calvary where, shortly after, we will receive His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Source and Summit of our lives as Norbertine Canonesses?
Our Lady is thus the Mother of all believers because of her unique role in the plan of God for our salvation. She is, in the words of St. Augustine, the “first and most prominent member of the Church.” Our Lady is thus the Mother of All Believers because of her unique role in the plan of God for our salvation. She is, in the words of St. Augustine, the “first and most prominent member of the Church.” Our Lady, whom we celebrate on the first day of the New Year in the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, shows us how to perfectly worship and love Him as God. She leads our songs of praise, and she teaches us to worship God with profound love and joy, even as she did on earth, and continues to do in heaven. And so she leads us to begin our heaven here on earth, to live in joy even as we walk this valley of tears, and to turn to Him Who is our Life.
O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary!
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
