May is the most beautiful month, so of course it is dedicated to Mary. But what are the most beautiful Marian hymns?
I asked that question on Facebook, and heard from friends far and wide. I loved many of their suggestions — some of which introduced me to hymns I had never heard before. Others were hymns that may have once been favorites, but which I have now sung maybe 35 or 50 times too many.
I pared the list down to my personal 17 favorites. Please note your own favorites in the comments!
17: Lovely Lady Dressed in Blue
The song itself may not be my favorite, but anyone who has heard Fulton Sheen mention this prayer —reading it dramatic fashion to end a talk — will appreciate “
” set to music.16: Bring Flowers of the Rarest
I’m not always in the mood for Irish tenors, but when I am, I want to hear them sing the 19th-century hymn “
” written by Mary E. Walsh that celebrates “the Queen of the May.”15: O Mary of Graces
The beautiful hymn “
” is translated from a .https://youtu.be/NS97lvtyayA
14: You Were There
This Anglican boys choir from London includes a number of Marian hymns in its repertoire. “
” is a contemporary hymn sung to God and to his mother, the queen of heaven.13: Holy Mother
Marian pop songs range from the absurd (Elvis Presley’s wonderfully cheesy “
”) to the sublime (Patty Griffin’s beautiful, introspective “”) but here is one everyone can love, “,” which was a regular on the set list of Eric Clapton in his later years.12: Behold, the Virgin Shall Be With Child
I love this Marian hymn that uses a text from Isaiah. “
was written by two young musicians I met a long time ago when they were not yet able to handle instruments so well, Brendon and Natalie Mezzetti.11: Dear Lady of Fatima
My wife and I were surprised one day at one of Atchison’s smaller churches (our small town has four Catholic churches) to hear the beautiful “
” by American Gladys Gollahon sung as a recessional hymn. We asked the singer, one of our confirmation students, how it ended up in the rotation and she said a couple of older parishioners requested it, remembering it from their youth.10:Sing of Mary (Pure and Lowly)
I love when we get to sing “
),” an early 20th-century hymn by Canadian Anglican Roland F. Palmer. I love that it is often attributed to “anonymous,” which makes its composer seem pure and lowly himself.9:Ave Maria by Schubert
How could we not include the most popular
? We hear it every Christmas from , but everybody has their favorite. You can’t go wrong with Andrea Bocelli:8: Hail Holy Queen Enthroned Above.
“
” is a lot of fun to sing — especially with the organ blaring and with a church full of singers. But no one had more fun with it that the makers of Sister Act.https://youtu.be/vgs22tPy5c4
7: Salve Regina
The
is an irresistible old Latin Compline hymn that I know by heart though I never tried to memorize it. (“Gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle …”). It’s the Latin inspiration for “Hail Holy Queen Enthroned Above.”https://youtu.be/OLMeHBkLQJo
6: Ave Maria Angelus Domini by Franz Biebl
Here is another great “
,” written in 1961 for a firemen’s choir, capable of bringing you to tears through the music alone.5. The Akathist to the Theotokos
This 7th-century
,” sometimes known by its “Rejoice Unwedded Bride” section, is a beautiful Eastern explanation of the greatness of the Blessed Mother.4: Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming
When I asked for Marian hymns on Facebook, “
” was the first one mentioned. The original was a 16th-century German song, “.” Here is an English version by pop singer Sting.3: Gabriel’s Message
Another one that Sting performs is “
” which is reportedly from a Basque folk carol, originally based on Angelus Ad Virginem, a 13th- or 14th-century Latin carol. Here is a version from one of my family’s favorite Christmas CDs, by the Christian group Jars of Clay.2: O Sanctissima
is an 18th-century song sometimes called “The Sicilian Mariners Hymn.” Of course, are the best, but you’ve got to love hearing Bing Crosby sing it.1: Ave Maria by Bach/Gonoud
My favorite Marian hymn is the
. Charles Gounod set the theme over a Bach prelude (Prelude No. 1 in C major, BWV 846, from Book I of J.S. Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier). I like nearly of the many versions of it, but Bobby McFarrin’s is the most fun, and he describes how the piece was written, too — though he leaves out the detail that Gounod improvised the melody but his father-in-law was there to write it down.
And today we celebrate...