Inviolata integra et casta

General information

Sequence hymn, mainly associated with Candlemas but occasionally used at Assumption & other feasts.

Settings by composers

Anonymous Gregorian chant from Attaingnant's Fourth Book of motets, 1534 TTBB, identical to Jean Courtois Giovanni Contino SATTBB Jean Courtois TTBB ("O benigna" x3 instead of "… O Regina, O Maria") Nicolas Gombert SATTB

Charles Gounod 4 unmixed vv, TTBB Harsius STTBB Vicente Lusitano SSAATTBB Josquin des Prez SATTB Andreas de Silva SATB Adrian Willaert SSAATTB

Text and translations

Latin text Inviolata, integra et casta es Maria: Quae es effecta fulgida caeli porta. O Mater alma Christi carissima: Suscipe pia laudum praeconia. Te nunc flagitant devota corda et ora: Nostra ut pura pectora sint et corpora. Tua per precata dulcisona: Nobis concedas veniam per saecula. O benigna! O Regina! O Maria! Quae sola inviolata permansisti.

English translation Inviolate, whole and chaste are you, Mary: you are the shining gate of heaven. O kind mother, dearest to Christ, accept our faithful hymns of praise. To you our hearts and lips cry out: may our souls and bodies be pure. Through your prayers' sweet sounds grant us forgiveness for ever. O kindly one! O Queen! O Mary! you alone remain inviolate.