Lend me Thine aid: the oldest extant Marian petition...

I'm getting on the plane in the next few moments, so I thought I'd share with you the oldest known hymn (i.e., petition) to the BVM! My Alabama football fans might forgo their usual prayers and invoke this one!

Aha....lest I forget, Happy Epiphany! May God grant you a most wonderful Epiphany. Just think about it: a Saviour for the whole world! This, you see, is truly "Amazing Grace!"


Latin: Probably from the 10 or 11th century.

Sub tuum praesidium
confugimus,confugimus
Sancta Dei Genitrix.
Sancta Dei Genitrix.
Nostras deprecationes ne despicias
in necessitatibus nostris,
sed a periculis cunctis
libera nos semper,
Virgo gloriosa et benedicta
Sub tuum praesidium
confugimus, confugimus
Sancta Dei Genitrix
Sancta Dei Genitrix.

English: More my speed! My Latin is more on the "Cat & the Hat" level!

Under thy protection
our refuge, our refuge,
Holy Mother of God
Holy Mother of God;
despise not our petitions
in our need,
but from all dangers
deliver us always,
Virgin Glorious and Blessed
under your protection
our refuge, our refuge
Holy Mother of God
Holy Mother of God

On the Lighter Side:
I had a dream recently that I was flying to the U.K. on the Feast of The Epiphany, and King Herod was our pilot! No kidding, he was lovely (aren't they all till they chop off your head!) and even invited me into the cockpit for a martini; however, he would not stop in London. He insisted we continue to Jerusalem! I woke up before we landed...perhaps I'll know more later.

Pax and prayers,

Your Charleston