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Regina Caeli

also known as Queen of Heaven, Regina Coeli, O Queen of Heaven, rejoice

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Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia.

Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.

Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia.

For He whom you deserved to bear, alleluia.

Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia.

Has risen, as He said, alleluia.

Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

Pray for us to God, alleluia.

Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, alleluia.

Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.

Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.

For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui, Domini nostri Iesu Christi, mundum laetificare dignatus es: praesta, quaesumus; ut, per eius Genetricem Virginem Mariam, perpetuae capiamus gaudia vitae.

O God, who through the resurrection of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, deigned to bring joy to the world: grant, we beseech You, that through His Mother, the Virgin Mary, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life.

Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

About the Regina Caeli

The Regina Caeli is one of the four great Marian antiphons of the Roman Rite, sung throughout the joyful season of Easter. Where in other seasons the Church prays the Angelus, in Eastertide she sings instead this antiphon, bidding the Queen of Heaven rejoice because the Son she bore has risen as He said. It is a prayer overflowing with the gladness of the Resurrection.

When prayed: Sung in place of the Angelus throughout Eastertide (from Easter Sunday to Pentecost), and as the Marian antiphon at Compline during the same season.

Line-by-line translation

The Latin text of the Regina Caeli alongside its English translation, line by line.

Latin English
Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia. Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia. For He whom you deserved to bear, alleluia.
Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia. Has risen, as He said, alleluia.
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia. Pray for us to God, alleluia.
Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, alleluia. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.
Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui, Domini nostri Iesu Christi, mundum laetificare dignatus es: praesta, quaesumus; ut, per eius Genetricem Virginem Mariam, perpetuae capiamus gaudia vitae. O God, who through the resurrection of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, deigned to bring joy to the world: grant, we beseech You, that through His Mother, the Virgin Mary, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life.
Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Vocabulary

Word-by-word definitions and example uses. Tap any word to learn its meaning, then return to the prayer with new ears.

Regina

Definition: Queen

Regina regnum regebat. (The queen was ruling the kingdom.)

caeli

Definition: of heaven

Stellae caeli splendebant. (The stars of heaven were shining.)

laetare

Definition: rejoice

Laetare, amice, quia dies natalis est. (Rejoice, friend, for it is your birthday.)

alleluia

Definition: hallelujah

Alleluia canimus in die festo. (We sing hallelujah on the feast day.)

quia

Definition: because

Felix sum, quia te video. (I am happy because I see you.)

quem

Definition: whom

Puer quem vidi venit. (The boy whom I saw has come.)

meruisti

Definition: you have deserved

Laudes meruisti ob opera tua. (You have deserved praise for your work.)

portare

Definition: to bear

Cupidinem portare potest omnis homo. (Every man can bear love.)

Resurrexit

Definition: has risen

Dominus resurrexit tertia die. (The Lord has risen on the third day.)

sicut

Definition: as

Scribit sicut poeta. (He writes as a poet.)

dixit

Definition: he said

Pater dixit me venire. (Father said for me to come.)

ora

Definition: pray

Ora pro pace in mundo. (Pray for peace in the world.)

pro

Definition: for

Pro amico donum emi. (I bought a gift for a friend.)

nobis

Definition: us

Cibus nobis placet. (The food pleases us.)

Deum

Definition: God

Adoramus Deum semper. (We always worship God.)

Gaude

Definition: rejoice

Gaude populus, victoria est nostra. (Rejoice, people, the victory is ours.)

et

Definition: and

Scribit et legit cotidie. (He writes and reads daily.)

Virgo

Definition: Virgin

Virgo Maria mater Iesu est. (The Virgin Mary is the mother of Jesus.)

Maria

Definition: Mary

Sancta Maria intercede pro nobis. (Holy Mary, intercede for us.)

surrexit

Definition: has risen

Luna plena surrexit. (The full moon has risen.)

Dominus

Definition: Lord

Dominus pastor meus est. (The Lord is my shepherd.)

vere

Definition: truly

Vere loquitur amicus. (A friend speaks truthfully.)

Deus

Definition: God

Deus omnia potest. (God can do all things.)

qui

Definition: who

Puer qui legit est studiosus. (The boy who reads is studious.)

per

Definition: through

Iter facimus per silvam. (We travel through the forest.)

resurrectionem

Definition: resurrection

Resurrectionem in fide celebramus. (We celebrate the resurrection in faith.)

Filii

Definition: of the Son

Gloria Filii magnifica est. (The glory of the Son is magnificent.)

tui

Definition: your

Libri tui sunt in mensa. (Your books are on the table.)

Domini

Definition: of the Lord

Templum Domini sacrum est. (The temple of the Lord is sacred.)

nostri

Definition: our

Domus nostri magna est. (Our house is large.)

Iesu

Definition: Jesus

Fidem Iesu sequimur. (We follow the faith of Jesus.)

Christi

Definition: of Christ

Amor Christi immensum est. (The love of Christ is immense.)

mundum

Definition: world

Mundum oculis cernimus. (We perceive the world with our eyes.)

laetificare

Definition: to bring joy

Nuntius bonus laetificare potest. (A good message can bring joy.)

dignatus es

Definition: you have deemed

Dignatus es nos benedicere. (You have deemed to bless us.)

praesta

Definition: grant

Praesta nobis pacem. (Grant us peace.)

quaesumus

Definition: we beseech

Quaeso te, amice, auxilium meum. (I beseech you, friend, for my help.)

eius

Definition: his/her

Eius consilium sequimur. (We follow his counsel.)

Genetricem

Definition: mother

Genetricem Domini honoramus. (We honor the mother of the Lord.)

Virginem

Definition: Virgin

Virginem beatam laudamus. (We praise the blessed Virgin.)

perpetuae

Definition: eternal

Perpetuae vitae spes habemus. (We have the hope of eternal life.)

capiamus

Definition: we may obtain

Capiamus pacem post bellum. (We may obtain peace after the war.)

gaudia

Definition: joys

Gaudia familiae magna sunt. (The joys of the family are great.)

vitae

Definition: of life

Pulchritudo vitae admiranda est. (The beauty of life is to be admired.)

eundem

Definition: the same

Eundem librum legimus. (We read the same book.)

Christum

Definition: Christ

Ad Christum oramus. (We pray to Christ.)

nostrum

Definition: our

Amicus noster valde fidus est. (Our friend is very loyal.)

Amen

Definition: amen

Orationem inchoamus cum 'Amen'. (We begin the prayer with 'Amen'.)

About the Regina Caeli

What is the Regina Caeli?

The Regina Caeli — 'Queen of Heaven' — is the Church's Marian antiphon for the season of Easter, one of the four great antiphons to Our Lady alongside the Salve Regina, the Alma Redemptoris Mater, and the Ave Regina Caelorum. It calls upon Mary to rejoice in the Resurrection of her Son and asks her to pray for us.

When is the Regina Caeli prayed?

It is prayed throughout Eastertide — from Easter Sunday until Pentecost. During this season it replaces the Angelus at morning, noon, and evening, and it is the Marian antiphon sung at the close of Night Prayer (Compline). Like the Angelus, it is traditionally prayed standing, as befits the joy of the Resurrection.

Why does the Regina Caeli replace the Angelus at Easter?

The Angelus meditates on the Incarnation — the Word becoming flesh in Mary's womb. In Eastertide the Church turns her gaze instead to the Resurrection, the very heart of our redemption, and so she sets aside the Angelus and sings the Regina Caeli, summoning Our Lady to share the Easter joy: the Son she bore in sorrow now lives forever.

What does 'Regina Caeli, laetare' mean?

Regina Caeli, laetare means 'Queen of Heaven, rejoice.' The antiphon addresses the Blessed Virgin as Queen of Heaven and commands her — with holy boldness — to rejoice, 'for He whom you were worthy to bear has risen, as He said.' It is the Church's invitation to Mary to lay down the sorrow of Good Friday and take up the gladness of Easter.

Other Latin Catholic prayers

Pater Noster

The prayer Christ Himself taught — the heart of every Christian's life of prayer.

Ave Maria

The greeting of the Archangel Gabriel, joined to the Church's own petition.

Gloria Patri

The Church's ancient doxology: glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Salve Regina

The Church's evening hymn to Mary, our life, our sweetness, and our hope.

Memorare

St. Bernard's confident plea to the Mother of God.

Angelus Domini

Three times a day the Church remembers the Word made flesh.
See all Catholic Latin prayers →

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