The Regina Caeli is a prayer which is traditionally said in place of the Angelus during Eastertide. It’s also one of the four Marian antiphons which may be said at the end of Compline, the prayer which ends the Church’s liturgical day.
According to small-t tradition, a deadly plague was tearing through the City of Rome in the year 590AD. Pope St. Gregory the Great led a procession through the city, praying for relief as they went. As the procession approached Hadrian’s Mausoleum, the Archangel Michael manifested, sheathing his sword, and the Holy Father heard the first three lines (“Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia; For He whom you merited to bear, alleluia; Has risen, as He said, alleluia,”) being sung by angels. He then composed the last line (“Pray for us to God, alleluia”) on the spot. The plague ended immediately.
The other lines given here (“Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia. . .”) are from the pre-1970 form of the Roman Breviary. The Church grants an indulgence for Catholics who recite this prayer at 6:00AM, 12:00PM, and 6:00PM during Eastertide.
Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia;
Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia,
Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia:
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
The Son you merited to bear, alleluia,
Has risen as he said, alleluia.
Pray to God for us, alleluia.Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, alleluia.
Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.Oremus.
Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui Domini nostri Iesu Christi, mundum laetificare dignatus es: praesta, quaesumus, ut, per eius Genetricem Virginem Mariam, perpetuae capiamus gaudia vitae. Per Christum, Dominum nostrum.
Amen.Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
The Son you merited to bear, alleluia,
Has risen as he said, alleluia.
Pray to God for us, alleluia.Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia;
Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia,
Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia:
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.
Let us pray.O God, who have been pleased to gladden the world by the Resurrection of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, grant, we pray, that through his Mother, the Virgin Mary, we may receive the joys of everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia;
Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia,
Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia:
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia;
Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia,
Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia:
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.