It means "Hail Maria"

Today's Music Monday song is one very near and dear to my heart. It holds a special place in the history of my family. It was sung at my Mom and Dad's wedding and my Sweet Hubby and I, in honor of my parents, had it sung at ours. It was a surprise and my Mom cried through the whole song...I can't hear it today without crying myself. It is so beautiful, so powerful, so meaningful.

A little bit of history first...

In 1825 a young composer wrote a song called “Ellen’s Song Number Three”. The song was a prayer to Mary and so well received, the young composer wrote to his parents:

“My new songs…..especially had much success. They also wondered greatly at my piety, which I expressed in a hymn to the Holy Virgin and which, it appears, grips every soul and turns it to devotion."

The composer died young at the age of 31. After his death Latin lyrics were replaced on the song for performance in a liturgical setting. The composer’s name was Franz Schubert, and “Ellen’s Song Number Three” is known to us today as “Ave Maria”.

The Latin translated reads as follows:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;
blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus [Christ].
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

(Source: ConradAskland.com)

Coming from a Roman Catholic background, my Sweet Hubby and I have a great reverence for the Blessed Mother. I know most protestant faiths feel that Catholics are obsessed with Mary and that she is sinfully venerated. I will not enter that argument...instead I look to God's Word:

"When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she cried out with a loud voice and said, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.' And Mary said, 'My soul exalts the Lord. And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave. For behold, from this time on all generations shall count me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and Holy is His name.'" Luke 1:41-49

And now, on to this beautiful song...which will one day carry another memory for me. This weekend my Sweet Hubby asked that it be sung at his funeral. I'm crying already...

**Remember to scroll down and pause my player before listening**

Ave Maria ~ Josh Groban