Ave Maris Stella Prayer

The Ave Maris Stella prayer honors Mary as the Star of the Sea and asks her to lead us safely to Jesus. This traditional hymn can be sung or prayed slowly, one stanza at a time.

Ave Maris Stella Prayer

Hail thou star of the ocean!
Portal of the sky!
Ever Virgin Mother
Of the Lord most high!

Oh! by Gabriel’s Ave,
Uttered long ago,
Eva’s name reversing,
Stablish peace below.

Break the captive’s fetters;
Light on blindness pour;
All our ills expelling,
Every bliss implore.

Show thyself a Mother;
Offer Him our sighs,
Who for us incarnate
Did not thee despise.

Virgin of all virgins!
To thy shelter take us:
Gentlest of the gentle!
Chaste and gentle make us.

Still as on we journey,
Help our weak endeavour;
Till with thee and Jesus
We rejoice for ever.

Through the highest heaven,
To the Almighty Three,
Father, Son, and Spirit,
One same glory be. Amen.

Traditional English hymn from the 1910 Raccolta.

Madonna of the Book, Sandro Botticelli. Public domain. Image record

When and How to Pray Ave Maris Stella

Pray the hymn during a Marian devotion, while preparing for consecration to Jesus through Mary, or when asking for guidance. Read one stanza, then pause over its request. The final stanza praises the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If you are praying an approved liturgical office, use the text provided in that book rather than substituting a private translation.

What Does Ave Maris Stella Mean?

Ave Maris Stella means “Hail, Star of the Sea.” The image expresses Mary’s maternal guidance toward Christ. A traveler looks to a star for direction; in this hymn we ask Mary’s prayers as we seek the Lord and grow in purity, gentleness and peace.

Who Wrote Ave Maris Stella?

Its author is uncertain. The hymn is found in a ninth-century manuscript and was used in the Church’s evening prayer in honor of Mary. New Advent’s Catholic Encyclopedia cautions against attributing it confidently to St. Bernard or St. Venantius Fortunatus.

Is Ave Maris Stella the Same as Hail, Queen of Heaven?

They are related Marian hymns, but they are not the same text. The seven-stanza prayer above is a traditional English rendering of Ave Maris Stella, from the 1910 Raccolta. When making a PDF or praying with a group, keep one complete version rather than mixing lines from different hymns.

Ave Maris Stella in Latin

Ave, maris stella,
Dei Mater alma,
Atque semper Virgo,
Felix caeli porta.

Sumens illud Ave
Gabrielis ore,
Funda nos in pace,
Mutans Evae nomen.

Solve vincla reis,
Profer lumen caecis,
Mala nostra pelle,
Bona cuncta posce.

Monstra te esse matrem,
Sumat per te preces,
Qui pro nobis natus
Tulit esse tuus.

Virgo singularis,
Inter omnes mitis,
Nos culpis solutos,
Mites fac et castos.

Vitam praesta puram,
Iter para tutum,
Ut videntes Iesum
Semper collaetemur.

Sit laus Deo Patri,
Summo Christo decus,
Spiritui Sancto,
Tribus honor unus. Amen.

Ave Maris Stella Prayer