The Hail Holy Queen, known in Latin as the Salve Regina, is one of the most beloved prayers to Mary. It is prayed at the end of the Holy Rosary, after the fifth decade.
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Where It Comes From
The Salve Regina dates from the 11th century. It is often credited to Hermann of Reichenau, a Benedictine monk, though its true author is uncertain.
It became one of the Church's great Marian antiphons. In the Liturgy of the Hours, it is sung at Night Prayer for much of the year, and religious communities have sung it at the end of the day for centuries.
What It Means
The prayer speaks honestly about life. We are "poor banished children of Eve," living "in this valley of tears," far from our true home in heaven.
In that exile, we turn to Mary as:
- Queen and Mother of mercy, who cares for us
- Advocate, who pleads for us before her Son
- The one who will show us Jesus, "the blessed fruit of thy womb," at the end of our journey
The closing verse and response ask Mary's prayers so that we may receive what Christ has promised.
In Latin (Salve Regina)
Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiae, vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Hevae. Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte; et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende. O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.
V. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genetrix. R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.
In the Holy Rosary
After the fifth decade (the last Fatima Prayer), pray the Hail Holy Queen. The leader says the verse (V.), and everyone answers with the response (R.).
Next prayer in the Holy Rosary: Holy Rosary Closing Prayer