It is ten days before Christmas. Decorations, lights, Christmas trees, and gift wrapping are all on our minds. Yet we often don’t spiritually prepare ourselves for the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ. One way we can prepare is through the sacred music of the Church. We all know the classic “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” and the awesome “Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending.” But one of the greatest hymns is the short antiphon that the Church sings this season—the Alma Redemptoris Mater or “Loving Mother of the Redeemer,” whose lyrics laud the Blessed Virgin Mary:

Loving Mother of the Redeemer, 

You who remain the open gate of heaven, 

And the star of the sea,

Hasten to the aid of your people who, falling,

Strive to rise again. 

You who, to the wonderment of nature,

Bore your holy Creator,

Remaining a virgin after as before,

Receiving  that “Ave” from the mouth of Gabriel:

Have mercy on us sinners.

The entire hymn is a praise of Our Lady under three titles—Gate of Heaven, Star of the Sea, and Mother of God—and of her perpetual virginity. She is the Gate of Heaven because just as Eve shut up the gates of paradise, so Mary has opened them wide. The pride of Eve was undone by the humility of Mary, her disobedience by Mary’s obedience.

Mary is also the Star of the Sea, the north star which guides the seafarers on their way to safe harbor. She is that light in the middle of our darkest nights, shining ever so brightly to point us to Christ, “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). So we need not fear though surrounded by darkness, for we have the true north in Mary.

She is the Mother of God, because, from the beginning, God chose her to be the Mother of Our Lord Jesus. She, who was conceived without sin, gave birth to the one who takes away the sins of the world. Moreover, on the cross Jesus gave his own mother to us so that she may bring us closer to her Son (John 19:26). She turns to us and asks us, as she did Saint Juan Diego five centuries ago, “Am I not here, I who am your mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection?” 

These words which praise Mary bring us to the main petition of this hymn: “Hasten to the aid of your people who, falling, strive to rise again.” The hymn recognizes that we are a falling race, in need of our mother’s help. The Liturgy of the Hours begins most prayers with “O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me.” In a like manner, we also should pray to Our Lady to make haste to help us everyday. This brings consolation: “…who, falling, strive to rise again.” The hymn declares that not all is lost. For we have not fallen so completely as to be devoid of all hope, but are falling. Those who have faith in God and hope in his promises fight off despair, and they strive to rise once more. Mother Mary is always there ready to give us her loving hand, to raise us up from our sins, to bring us to her loving Son, if only we ask for her help. She stands with us during our sufferings just as she stood beneath the cross. 

As the season of Christmas draws near and Advent comes to an end, let us use this time to prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ—the one who comes to our assistance and raises us up once more. Never lose hope, but with humble confidence ask succor from the Blessed Virgin Mary, and without fail she will be there to support you and to strengthen you as you navigate the tumultuous waves of this world. Holy Mary, Gate of Heaven and Star of the Sea, come to our assistance.

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Image: Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Virgen del Rosario con el Niño