Ave Maris Stella (Hail, thou Star of Ocean), the first verse of an unrhymed, accentual hymn, of seven strophes of four lines each, assigned in the Roman Breviary to Vespers in the Common Office, the Office for Saturdays, and the Little Office (as well as for Feasts) of the Blessed Virgin. It has been ascribed wrongly to St. Bernard, but antedates him, being found in a St. Gall manuscript of the ninth century; and, also, without sufficient authority, to St. Venantius Fortunatus (d. 609). Its very frequent occurrence in the Divine Office made it most popular in the Middle Ages, many other hymns being founded upon it.
Mone, Lateinische Hymnen, etc., II, 216-229, for five paraphrases with notes; Daniel, Thesaurus Hymnol., 1, 204—206, for text with variants, and IV, 136, for additional notes; Analecta Hymnica, 1, 49-186; III, 40-41; 1V, 49-50; VIII, 75; IX, 72; X, 103; XV, 114; XX, 142 sqq., Nos. 185-188; XXX, 282; XXXII, 33-34. An excellent study of its rhythmic features in connection with the plain-song melody of the first Mode was contributed by Dom Porurer to the Revue du chant grégorien (Grenoble, 1895), 83 sqq. (reprinted with additional comment, by Gruio Bas in his Rhythme Grégorien, etc. (Rome, 1906), 15-19. There are seven translations into English, that of Father Caswall appearing in his Lyra Catholica as “Gentle Star of Ocean,” and again in his Hymns and Poems in an altered form, and also in many collections of Catholic hymns, sometimes modified. It is found in the Marquess of Bute’s Breviary as “Hail, thou Star of Ocean.” The other translations are by Bestn, Hewirr, CHAMBERS, and Mrs, CHARLES.
H. T.
H. T. Henry.