Alma Redemptoris Mater

This is a motet by Palestrina. It's one of our staples at TAC. (*while running around in panic mode 10 minutes before Mass* "What are we going to sing for recessional?" "Um, I don't know." "What about Alma Redemptoris? We just sang it two weeks ago, but everyone knows it." "Okay! Sounds good.") But despite the frequent usage, I positively love it. What's not to love? It is Palestrina, after all. ;)

Latin:
Alma redemptoris mater,
quae pervia caeli porta manes,
et stella maris:
succurre cadenti,
surgere qui curat, populo,
tu quae genuisti natura mirante,
tuum sanctum Genitorem.
Virgo prius ac posterius,
Gabrielis ab ore
sumens illud Ave,
peccatorum miserere.

English:
Loving mother of the redeemer,
who remain a traversable gate to heaven,
and star of the sea:
Succor the fallen,
Lift up the people, [you] who cures,
you who bore, with nature marvelling,
your holy Creator.
Virgin before and after,
from the mouth of Gabriel
taking that Ave,
have mercy on us sinners.