☝️ Key Points
- The song is a modern interpretation of the traditional Catholic prayer 'Salve Regina' and a tribute to Mary, the mother of Jesus.
- The lines of the lyrics 'Hail holy queen enthroned above, Oh Maria' and 'Hail mother of mercy and of love, Oh Maria' venerate Mary as the heavenly queen and mother of mercy and love.
- The choir 'Triumph all ye cherubim, Sing with us ye seraphim, Heaven and earth resound the hymn' invites angels to join in the hymn of praise.
- 'Our life, our sweetness here below, Oh Maria' and 'Our hope in sorrow and in woe, Oh Maria' portray Mary as a comforter and hope in difficult times.
- 'Mater amaterintermerata, Sanctus, sanctus, dominus, Virgo respice mater ad spice, Sanctus, sanctus, dominus' praises Mary with Latin phrases as a virgin and holy mother.
- The repeated call 'Hail, hail, hail, queen' reaffirms the respect and worship towards Mary.
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song 'Oh Maria' from the movie
Sister Act is a modern adaptation of the traditional Catholic prayer 'Salve Regina' or 'Hail, Holy Queen'. The text is a tribute to Mary, the mother of Jesus, who is depicted as the Queen of Heaven. The lines 'Hail holy queen enthroned above, Oh Maria' and 'Hail mother of mercy and of love, Oh Maria' are direct adorations to Mary, who is raised to heaven and referred to as the Mother of Mercy and Love. The chorus 'Triumph all ye cherubim, Sing with us ye seraphim, Heaven and earth resound the hymn' invites angels (cherubim and seraphim) to join in the praise. 'Our life, our sweetness here below, Oh Maria' and 'Our hope in sorrow and in woe, Oh Maria' express Mary's role as a comforter and hope in times of grief and distress. The section 'Mater amaterintermerata, Sanctus, sanctus, dominus, Virgo respice mater ad spice, Sanctus, sanctus, dominus' consists of Latin phrases praising Mary as a virgin and holy mother. The repeated cry 'Salve, salve, salve, regina' means 'Hail, Queen' in Latin, emphasizing the ongoing veneration and reverence towards Mary.