Msg Base:  AREA 5  - ASK FATHER            CIN ECHO   AMDG
  Msg No: 283.  Thu  4-09-92  8:42  (NO KILL)  (MAILED)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Michael Martin
 Subject: Angelus ad Virginem

+-
| Greetings Father,
|  
| A friend of mine sent me the following Marian Prayer/Hymn once. It is one
| I am totally unfamiliar with and was wondering if anyone can shed some
| light on it. It is apparently mentioned in Chaucer in the Miller's Tale
| no less! I have not seen any other references. My friend said she grew up
| in parochial school singing it. I was wondering is anyone can trace its
| history for me and verify that this version is correct. Here it is;
|  
| (0x16)Angelus ad Virginem sub intrans in conclave
| Virginis formidinem demulcens inquit, "Ave!
| Ave Regina Virginum coeli terraque Dominum
| Concipies et paries intacta, salutem hominum.
| Tu porta coeli (est) facta medela criminum.
|  
| Thanks!
+-[MM=>FAAOE]
 
 
Dear Michael,
 
The hymn is one in honor of the Annunciation, the angel Gabriel's
visit to Mary  to invite her to become Mother of God. The first
three words are found in Chaucer's  Miller's Tale, line 3216.  The
hymn is printed in the Chaucer Society reprint of MS Harl. 7334,
p. 695f.
    
The text in your message needs the following corrections:
  1) SUBINTRANS is one word, not two.
  2) Read TERRAEQUE in line three.
  3) Read ES, not EST, in line five.
 
The hymn means:  The Angel came to the Virgin  in her room.  He
quieted her fear and said, "All hail!" Hail, Queen of Virgins!  You
shall conceive and bear untouched the Lord of heaven and earth, the
salvation  of mankind, you have become the gate of heaven, a remedy
for our sins.
 
 "Bear untouched" expresses the Catholic doctrine that Christ was
born without destroying Mary's physical integrity, i.e., miraculous
birth.
 
                                Sincerely in Christ,
 
                                Father Mateo