Salve Regina

A repost of my 2008 Friendster blog.
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One thing I miss about the seminary is singing those Latin songs.

Every Saturday evenings there’s vespers and Sunday afternoon there’s Benediction. During those times you’ll hear the Chirst the King chapel organ humming and the seminarians, with their “prayer books” at hand, singing in Latin. I’m not sure if they still follow the same schedule, but during the seven years I’ve been in the seminary that was our routine.

I still remember I used to lead the congregation during those Sunday afternoon prayers where I’d go up the podium and act as lector. Now instead of me reading from the book, I’d sing the the first few lines and the rest of the congregation sings back in response. I can still recall a couple of times when some teenagers would wonder by during prayers and were simply awed as we sung looking as if they were witnesses to a UFO sighting! Well, never mind being called “bosses kiki” during those times(at 5″11 and with a heavy set figure coupled by a falsetto voice…you can’t avoid being labeled as such!). Those were fond memories worth reminiscing!

Now, whenever the mood strikes me, I’d sing a verse or two of those Latin songs in my private time which is usually whenever I’m on my way to work walking the length of Edsa to the office (that would be around 6 or 6:30 am) or whenever I’m singing my baby to sleep—it’s an effective lullaby I tell you!(in liue of the usual Beatles song I sing him). Hmmm…I think I’m feeling that mood right now! Raymund, Rey, Eric, Mike…if you’re reading this blog—sing with me:

Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiae,
vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
ad te clamamus
exsules filii Evae,
ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos
misericordes oculos ad nos converte;
et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.