LISTEN
AVE MARIS STELLA
AVE maris stella, Dei Mater alma, Atque sempre Virgo, felix caeli porta.
Hail, Star of the sea, Blessed Mother of God and ever Virgin, happy Gate of Heaven.
The recording is only a short recording of the Latin hymn, repeated.
The Ave Maris Stella, Hail, Star of The Ocean, is an ancient plainchant Marian hymn of unknown origin. However, it can be dated back to around the 9th Century (800-899 AD). It is preserved in the 9th century manuscript, Codex Sangallensis, which is currently in the Swiss Monastery of St. Gallen and another manuscript now in Salzburg. Some attribute The Ave Maris Stella to St. Bernard of Clairvaux 1090-1153 AD or King Robert, 1031 AD, however this is too late for either of them to have authored it. Often attributed to Venantius Fortunatus in the 6th Century, late 500 AD, and Paul the Deacon, early 700 AD. The Ave Maris Stella is in ancient codices of the Divine Office for Vespers on Marian feasts. It continues to be sung today in the Divine Office and in the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin. The Ave Maris Stella has been prayed and sung for centuries for safe travel especially for fishermen at sea.
Music: The music is similar to Gabhaim Molta Bríde, an ancient Gaelic hymn honoring Saint Brigid. Saint Brigid of Kildare Ireland 451-525 AD. Naomh Brid (Old Irish) and Brighid (classical Irish) is the patroness saint of Ireland. Brigida (Latin) is also known as the mother saint of Ireland. Saint Patrick, Saint Columba, and Saint Brigid are the three national saints of Ireland.
BE THOU MY VISION
“Rop tú mo Baile”
SAINT DALLAN FORGAILL, IRELAND
Click on the tab below to listen.
Free download - Feel free to download the song if you like by clicking on “Download” to the bottom far right of the audio tab in your computer. Or, on your iPhone or smartphone: click the play button, and then the share button to text the mp3 audio file or send to email.
This poem was written in Ireland by Eochaid Mac Colla, also known as Saint Dallan Forgaill, 530 – 598 AD, 6th Century. (AD = After Death of Jesus Christ. 6th Century period is 501 to 600AD. Birth and death records vary with numerous references.)
Saint Dallan Forgaill (Eochaid Mac Colla) was the the Chief Ollamh Poet of all of Ireland (Ollam means "high rank" from old Ireland). His position was as high as the King. The original Old Irish text, “Rop tú mo Baile,” also known as “Be Thou My Vision,” was part of Irish monastic traditions for centuries. Over 1300 years later, Mary E Byrne made a translation of the “Rop tú mo Baile” in the journal at the School of Irish Learning in 1905. The English text was first versified by Eleanor Hull in 1912. Also, there is the music itself. There is an ancient Irish song named “Slane” which is about the Hill of Slane in Ireland (St Patrick), and “Be Thou My Vision” was set to this old Irish ¾ time folk tune. If you look at the lyrics, this is a beautiful prayer of great depth, of a man asking God to “be his vision.”
Dallan was born approximately 97 years after Saint Patrick lit the Easter fire on Slane Hill in Ireland in 433 AD according to tradition, and Christianity flourished in Ireland. Saint Patrick was also a writer and poet himself, writing Saint Patrick's Breastplate, a Prayer of Protection, also known as The Deer's Cry, The Lorica of Saint Patrick or Saint Patrick's Hymn, a prayer he used for divine protection.
Dallan also wrote the "Amra Choluim Chille" and numerous poems, eulogies, etc. There is much history on Dallan, also known as “the blind one” who, it is said, started to go blind from his dedicated religious life and work.
I wanted to find a beautiful Irish song when my mother passed away a few years ago, and chose this one. The song is over 1400 years old and it reminded me of my Irish mother, and her faith, as well as my grandparents, great grandparents, and family from Ireland. I have been told by some that this song is “as Irish as it gets.”