Angelus ad Virginem

Angelus ad Virginem is a popular Medieval carol. It is though to be of Franciscan origin and  to have been composed in the later part of the 13th century. Chaucer mentions it in his Miller's tale:

    And over all there lay a psaltery

    Whereon he made an evening's melody,

    Playing so sweetly that the chamber rang;

    And Angelus ad virginem he sang;

    And after that he warbled the King's Note:

    Often in good voice was his merry throat.

    Angelus ad virginem,

    Subintrans in conclave,

    Virginis formidinem

    Demulcens, inquit "Ave!

    Ave, regina virginum:

    Coeli terraeque dominum

    Concipies et paries intacta

    Salutem hominum;

    Tu porta coeli facta,

    Medela criminum."

    "Quomodo conciperem,

    Quae virum non cognovi?

    Qualiter infringerem,

    Quae firma mente vovi?"

    "Spiritus sancti gratia

    Perficiet haec omnia.

    Ne timeas, sed gaudeas

    Secura, quod castimonia

    Manebit in te pura

    Dei potentia."

    Ad haec, virgo nobilis

    Respondens inquit ei,

    "Ancilla sum humilis

    Omnipotentis Dei.

    Tibi coelesti nuntio,

    Tanti secreti conscio,

    Consentiens et cupiens videre

    Factum quod audio,

    Parata sum parere

    Dei consilio."

    Angelus disparuit

    Et statim puellaris

    Uterus intumuit

    Vi partus salutaris.

    Qui, circumdatus utero

    Novem mensium numero,

    Hinc exiit et iniit conflictum,

    Affigens humero

    Crucem, qua dedit ictum

    Hosti mortifero.

    Eia Mater Domini,

    Quae pacem reddidisti

    Angelis et homini

    Cum Christum genuisti!

    Tuum exora filium

    Ut se nobis propitium

    Exhibeat, et deleat peccata,

    Praestans auxilium

    Vita frui beata

    Post hoc exsilium.

The angel came to the Virgin, entering secretly into her room, calming the Virgin’s fears said, “Hail! Hail, Queen of virgins; you will conceive and give birth to the Lord of heaven and earth, the salvation of the world,  and remain undefiled; you will become the gate of heaven, the remedy of sin”.  “How can I conceive, who has not known a man? How can I break the vow I have made with firm intention?” “The grace of the Holy Spirit will accomplish all of this. Do not fear but rather rejoice, your chastity will remain pure by the power of God.” To this the noble virgin replied, saying “I am the humble handmaid of almighty God. To you, heavenly herald, sharing such a great secret, I consent and desire to see done what I have heard, I am ready to submit myself to the design of God”. The angel disappeared and at once the maiden’s womb swelled with power of the birth of salvation, who surrounded by the womb, for nine months in number, left it and began the battle, fastening to his shoulder the cross, with which he dealt the blow to the death-bearing  enemy. Ah! O Mother of the Lord, who has brought back peace between angels and men, when you gave birth to Christ, that he may show himself gracious to us and blot out our sins, granting help to us that after this exile we may enjoy blessed life.