Charles Gounod's 19th century adaptation to the First Prelude of Johann Sebastian Bach seldom fails to evoke thoughts of weddings and white lace to many Catholics. This lovely hymn was often played as guests waited for the bride to enter the church. Soprano's possessing both the ability to sing in Latin as well as manage the difficult piece were a rare and appreciated commodity! Though I've sung it many times, I never had the nerve to solo for any bride, lest I crack a note or miss one completely! No other version of the Ave Maria is as well known, and Gounod's Ave Maria is still used worldwide today. I hope you enjoy hearing one of my most beloved pieces of music. Ave Maria Gratia plena Maria, gratia plena Maria, gratia plena Ave, ave dominus Dominus tecum Benedicta tu in mulieribus Et benedictus Et benedictus fructus ventris Ventris tuae, Jesus. Ave Maria Ave Maria Mater Dei Ora pro nobis peccatoribus Ora pro nobis Ora, ora pro nobis peccatoribus Nunc et in hora mortis Et in hora mortis nostrae Et in hora mortis nostrae Et in hora mortis nostrae Ave Maria The Ave Maria, or Hail Mary, is one of the oldest and most beloved of the Catholic prayers. The first part stems from the bible. It combines the words of the Angel telling the virginal Mary that she was to be the mother of God ... "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women" ... with the words of her cousin, Elizabeth ... "Blessed is the Fruit of thy womb!" Mary needed to travel a long distance to visit Elizabeth, and since they hadn't seen each other for some time, neither knew the other was "with child." And Elizabeth, previously considered barren, was joyously pregnant (with St. John, the Baptist). When she saw Mary approaching, the child in her womb "leapt with joy" and at that moment Elizabeth knew that Mary was carrying the promised Messiah, or Saviour. The second part ... "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death" ... was added sometime in the 16th century.  "Amen" simply means "so be it" and is said at the end of many prayers.