O Sanctissima

A most lovely Roman Catholic hymn, first published in Latin around the year 1794. The tune is believed to be a traditional Sicilian melody

I can remember this from my early childhood and it's a wondeful grace that young people today are discovering many of the treasures hidden away during the wayward and damaging times of the 60's and beyond. God is restoring beauty to His church and music helps us to focus our minds and souls on Jesus

There are a number of versions in English as well as German but they are not translations. The original Latin text is a tribute to Mary's state of purity and grace and asks her to pray for us.

O Sanctissima, O Piissima
Dulcis Virgo Maria
Mater amata, Intemerata
Ora, Ora Pro Nobis

Tota pulchra es, O Maria
Et macula non est in te
Mater amata intemerata
Ora, ora pro nobis

Sicut lilium inter spinas
Sic Maria inter filias
Mater amata intemerata
Ora ora pro nobis

In miseria, in angustia
Ora Virgo pro nobis
Pro nobis ora in mortis hora
Ora, ora pro nobis

Tu solatium et refugium
Virgo Mater Maria
Quidquid optamus per te speramus
Ora, ora pro nobis

Category:

Music

Tags:

• sanctissima
• catholic
• hymn
• latin
• violin

[TheJfsruiz]

I would love to have the sheet music with the lyrics for hymn, I used to sing it while in the Seminary. Can you help me?

[guarneriviolinaddict]

@TheJfsruiz - there are a number of public domain versions in pdf format.....cpdl.org/wiki/index­.php/O_santissima_(Traditional­)

also you can search this site for other arrangements and lyrics in Latin, italian, etc

[mrmagruder1]

thank  you so much for all your videos- they are such an inspiration I play them all the time when I'm working at my computer.

[guarneriviolinaddict]

thank you for your kind comments. Though unintended, it seems my channel here has become a place where many find peace and inspiration...so I'll continue to post when I can and let God use this channel as He wishes

[zanozi]

could you tell me the author of the picture at 2:54? It's beautiful!!

Thank you.

[guarneriviolinaddict]

I'm sorry but I was not able to find who the artist is. I too found this to be a very touching painting

[Tijguy]

I played this at a protestant church concert on the oboe once; not even knowing it is a catholic hymn; I`m not even sure if the Priest knew it or crossed their mind. At any case, I like this classic, solemn, song. Yet I don`t understand why people here are upset about the old mass versus the new mass and the catholic church. This can be sung or played at either one and it is being done in churches.

It`s a masterpiece anywhere it`s played. Thanks for sharing it.

[icesbro3]

Beautiful,it brings me back to a better time when the Church was the Church, not a watered down version like it is now. Not saying that Vatican II was wrong, it just went too far to appease the few. I fear that we have lost something that we may have lost forever. I pray that the Holy Father Benedict can and will bring us back to the way it was and should ever be.

[agj19sep1970]

@TheJfsruiz  try googling it

[alanjknig]

very fine, brings you closer to Mary.

[watchful38]

I remember this beautiful hymn being sung by Bing Crosby in the B/W movie "The Bells of St. Mary's". Bing Crosby played the role of a Catholic priest and the school was attached to the church. The nuns who rans the school were not always pleased with the new priest's ideas! When Bing gave the kids a "Holiday"(with little justification), the nuns were surprised and understandably upset. Usually on TV at Christmas time along with "It's a Wonderful World" and "A Christmas Carol"(Scrooge).

[TheJfsruiz]

Thank you

[sandinmyears1]

This is also VERY similar to the civil rights song "We Shall Overcome" which is a descendant of the spiritual song "No More Auction Block." The first 2 lines are almost identical. Dylan's song "Blowin' in the Wind is also said to have come from "No More Auction Block."

[sandinmyears1]

This is the same tune as "O How Joyfully, O How Merrily" that I learned in the Lutheran Church.

[chompfest]

@guarneriviolinaddict

the picture is Kissing the Face of God by Morgan Weistling 

[ArcangeloMS]

Its the German Christmas Carol "O du froehliche, o du selige, gnadenbringende Weihnachtszeit!"...Very famous in Germany, but no one here knows that it is originally an Latin hym of the blessed virgin Mary...everyone thinks, its an old German folk song...