AVE GENEROSA (hymn)
Chant of Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179)
Soprano: Rosa Lamoreaux 1998

Ave, generosa, gloriosa et intacta puella; tu, pupilla castitatis,     tu, materia sanctitatis,     quae Deo placuit!     Hail, girl of noble birth,     glorious and untouched Virgin,     you, pupil in the eye of chastity,     you, essene of purity,     who pleased God !     Nam haec superna infusio in te fuit,     quod supernum verbum in te carnem induit,     Tu, candidum lilium,     quod Deus ante omnem creaturam inspexit. For the heavenly potion was poured into you,      so that the heavenly Word became flesh in you,      You, dazzling lily,      whom God knew before all other creatures.     O pulcherrima et dulcissima;     quam valde Deus in te delectabatur!     Cum amplexione caloris sui in te posuit ita quod filius eius de te lactatus est.     Most beautiful and sweetest one;      how greatly has God delighted in you !     You were implanted with the embrace of His fire     so that His Son might be suckled by you.     Venter enim tuus     gaudium habuit,     cum omnis celestis symphonia de te sonuit,     quia, virgo, Filium Dei portasti,     ubi castitas tua in Deo claruit.     Thus your womb was joyful,    with all the heavenly symphony singing for you,    because, o Virgin, you bore the Son of God    when your chastity shone in God. Viscera tua gaudium habuerunt,     sicut gramen super quod ros cadit cum ei viridatem infudit;     ut et te factum est,     mater omnis gaudii.     Your womb had joy     like the grass touched by dew, infused with its freshness;     and was made in you,      O Mother of all joy.     Nunc omnis Ecclesia in gaudio rutilet ac in syphonia sonet,     propter dulcissimam virginem     et laudibilem Mariam Dei genitricem. Amen. Now let all believers rediate in the dawn of joy     and resound in harmony      for the sweetest Virgin,      most praiseworthy Mary Mother of God. Amen.