Imagine the joy of Mary on Easter morning! Think of her recently broken heart, rejoicing beyond her own imagining at the sight of her beloved Son, standing before her with eyes full of love. The sacred face, now relieved of agony, greets his tender-hearted mother.
When Did Mary See Her Risen Son?
But just when was that moment when the mother of Jesus learned of his resurrection? The evangelists report that Mary Magdalene saw Jesus before the Apostles did, but do not mention Our Lady’s meeting with her Son.
Saints and doctors of the Church believe that Mary was the first human to see the resurrected Christ. It stands to reason that our Lord would seek his mother first, she who suffered so deeply at his passion and death. Pope St. John Paul II points out that Mary was not with the other women at the tomb on the resurrection morning. Could this be proof that she already knew her Son had risen? So asks John Paul II, who studied the life of Mary (Pronechen).
St. Vincent Ferrer believed that, in observing the commandment to honor parents, Christ would appear to his mother first. The saint stated that “by divine precept” Mary had the privilege of meeting Jesus first after his resurrection, because of her great suffering and faithfulness at the foot of the cross (Pronechen).
Queen of Heaven, Rejoice!
As Mary’s love for Jesus was stronger than any other person’s, and as her sorrow at his suffering was deeper, so also her joy at his resurrection must be greater. Therefore, it is fitting that we should think of her as we rejoice in the glorious Easter season. We wept with Mary on Good Friday, and now with her we celebrate the victory of Jesus, the wonder of new life, and the open gates of heaven.
Since at least the 12th century, the Church has recited a special prayer to Mary during the Easter season. This prayer is the Regina Caeli, which is Latin for “Queen of Heaven”. The words of the Regina Caeli (also spelled Coeli), as I learned them decades ago, are:
Queen of heaven, rejoice! Alleluia!
For he whom thou didst deserve to bear, Alleluia!
Has risen as he said, Alleluia!
Pray for us to God, Alleluia!
Rejoice and be glad, oh Virgin Mary, Alleluia!
Because our Lord is truly risen, Alleluia!
Let us pray.
Oh God, who by the resurrection of thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, didst vouchsafe to make glad the whole world,
Grant, we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, his mother,
We may attain the joys of eternal life. Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayer books and other websites will have modernized the wording, but the meaning is the same, as translated from Latin. The prayer asks Mary to join in our Easter rejoicing. It contains Catholic doctrine: that Mary is sinless, deserving to bear the Son of God; that Jesus foretold his resurrection; that Mary can intercede for us to Jesus and to his Father. And it reminds us that Jesus’ resurrection makes the whole world glad because salvation is now possible for all.
A solemn, yet soothing, chant melody accompanies the Regina Caeli, sung in Latin. One version of it can be found online, sung by the Gregorian Chant Academy.
Noon Time Marian Prayers
During the Easter season, the Regina Caeli is prayed daily at noon, in place of a prayer called the Angelus, which is prayed daily all year except during the Easter season. The Angelus recalls the events of the Annunciation when Christ became incarnate to dwell among us. The Regina Caeli takes us to Christ’s saving mission, the fulfillment of the Incarnation.
Legend has it that Pope Gregory the Great (604 B.C.) heard the first three lines of the Regina Caeli as he participated in an Easter procession. It is said that Gregory heard angels singing those lines, to which he added, “Ora pro nobis Deum,” which is translated as “Pray for us to God,” in the recited prayer. If true, the legend would place the composition of the prayer much earlier than the Middle Ages (Hugh).
Church Bells, a Call to Prayer
In earlier centuries, Catholics were reminded by church bells to pray these Marian prayers actually three times per day: at 6 a.m., at noon, and at 6 p.m. Now, most commonly, individuals who practice this devotion pray the Angelus or the Regina Caeli only at noon. In many cities, church bells called the Angelus bells, still peel at 12 noon each day. On Sundays at noon, people visiting Rome flock to St. Peter’s Square to hear the Pope pray the Angelus or the Regina Caeli, depending on the season.
During the Easter season, it is a fitting and enriching practice to pray the Regina Caeli. The first words of the prayer call to mind the fifth glorious mystery, acknowledging Mary’s title as Queen of Heaven. Calling for Mary to be glad fills our own hearts with happiness. We grieve that our sins have caused her pain. Our Savior’s blood washes away our sins. His resurrection restores grace and life to men. It enables us to approach our dear Lord’s Mother as gleeful children, begging her to rejoice with us.
The next time you hear the noontime bells, think of the Regina Caeli and rejoice with our Lady at her Son’s resurrection.
Works Cited and Consulted
Gregorian Chant Academy. “Regina Caeli: Queen of Heaven, rejoice! Alleluia!”. YouTube, 9 April 2023. www.google.com/search?q=queen+of+heaven+rejoice%2C+Alleluia&oq=queen+of+heaven+rejoice%2C+Alleluia&aqs=chrome..69i57j46i3j0i512l2j0i22i30l2j0i390i650l3.9826j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:fcc372f5,vid:yZRgV19gRTw. 10 April 2023.
Henry, Hugh. “Regina Coeli (Queen of Heaven).” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. www.newadvent.org/cathen/12718b.htm. 10 Apr. 2023.
Kettner, Lindsey. “The History and Meaning of the Regina Caeli.” Relevant Radio. 12 April 2021. https://relevantradio.com/2021/04/the-history-and-meaning-of-the-regina-caeli/#:~:text=Regina%20Caeli%20is%20Latin%20for,the%20Resurrection%20of%20our%20Lord. 10 April 2023.
Pronechen, Joseph. “After His Resurrection, Jesus Appeared First to His Mother Mary, Say the Saints.” National Catholic Register, 6 April 2021. https://www.ncregister.com/blog/jesus-appeared-first-to-mary-after-resurrection. 10 April 2023.
3 thoughts on “A Daily Prayer for the Easter Season: Regina Caeli”
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Dear Mary EM, Spot on! Of course he appeared toHis mom first! Any body who fad a mother will tell you this is true. Guy, Texas. (And similar reasons for His Mom’s Assumption)
Thank you, Guy! And yes, I agree that our understanding of the favor Jesus is likely to have shown his Mother after his resurrection would likely extend to her Assumption as well.