A very happy and blessed Easter to all of you! Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen! What a glorious time of the liturgical year. The party is just getting started, so make sure you celebrate from now till Pentecost. One way we like to do that is by praying the Regina Coeli, which means Queen of Heaven in Latin, before dinner every evening. Come and join us! After all, a party is more fun when there are more people participating.
More...
The origins of the Regina Coeli are not known for certain but it began to be prayed in the 13th century as a way to honor both the Lord's Resurrection and our Blessed Mother. There is a legend that says that Pope St. Gregory the Great heard angels singing the first verses of this prayer. He then added the verse "Pray for us to God, Alleluia". If you'd like to read more about the history of this prayer, this is a good explanation.
How to Pray the Regina Coeli
Like so many other prayers, there are slight variations in the translations - I'm thinking of you, Act of Contrition! All of them are good, it is just hard to switch to a different one when you've been praying it another way for many years. Therefore, I will include for you the version that we learned to pray.
There is also variation in how to pray the Regina Coeli. If you're praying it alone, then it's easy - just pray it. I know others who, while praying as a group, has one person read the line and the rest of the people respond "Alleluia". The leader then prays the final prayer by him/herself out loud.
In our family we alternate lines. The leader of the day (yes, it was necessary for us to have a leader of the day to minimize the arguing every evening) says the 1st, 3rd, and 5th lines. The rest of us say the 2nd, 4th and 6th lines. We then pray the final prayer together out loud.
Regina Coeli
Queen of Heaven, rejoice. Alleluia
For He whom thou didst merit to bear. Alleluia
Has Risen as He said. Alleluia
Pray for us to God. Alleluia
Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary. Alleluia
For the Lord is truly Risen. Alleluia
Let us pray.
Oh God, who by the Resurrection of thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, hast pleased to fill the world with joy. Grant, we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His mother, we may obtain the joys of eternal life. Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.
No matter which version you use, or how you choose to pray it, I hope that you will add the Regina Coeli to your daily prayers for the Easter season. Our pre-dinner prayers for this time include the Spiritual Adoption prayer, the Regina Coeli and then grace. Adding this prayer is such a small but great way to live the joy of Eastertide.
Christ is Risen!
Indeed, He is Risen!
Rejoice!