Marian antiphon “memento salutis auctor”: text and meaning

Memento, salutis auctor,
Quod nostri quondam corporis,
Ex illibata virgine,
Nascendo formam sumpseris.

Maria, mater gratiae,
Mater misericordiae,
Tu nos ab hoste protege,
Et hora mortis suscipe.

Gloria tibi Domine,
Qui natus es de virgine,
Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu,
In sempiterna saecula. Amen.

You who are the Author of Salvation,
remember that once You assumed
the condition of our body, being born
of a spotless Virgin.

Mary, mother of grace,
Mary, mother of mercy,
you protect us from our enemies
and at the hour of death you receive us.

Glory to You, O Lord,
Who were born of the Virgin,
With the Father and the Holy Spirit,
for ages without end. Amen.

Memento, salutis auctor sung by Saint Francis of Assisi

The tradition of Marian antiphons at Christmas and in the liturgy of the Church is addressed by Paul VI in the apostolic exhortation Marialis Cultus, which guides devotion to Mary so that it is integrated into the liturgical celebration of the mystery of Christ.

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