Angelus ad Virginem...

...is a popular Medieval carol that is still popular today. It appears in the Dublin Troper (ca. 1360) and Chaucer mentions it in his Miller's tale of The Canterbury Tales. Today all of Christendom celebrates the Feast of the Annunciation. It is on this day that the angel Gabriel appeared to a young girl in Galilee, in a little town called Nazareth, and promised her a Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit, who would be the salvation of the world.

Angelus ad Virginem subintrans in conclave
Virginis formidinem demulcens inquit: "Ave!
Ave, Regina virginum, caeli terraeque Dominum
concipies et paries intacta salutem hominum,
tu porta caeli facta medela criminum."

When the angel came secretly to the Virgin in her room,
soothing the maiden's fear, he said: "Hail!
Hail, Queen of virgins. While yet untouched by man
you shall conceive and bear the Lord of heaven and earth, salvation for mankind.
You have become the gate of heaven, a remedy for sins."

"Quomodo conciperem quae virum non cognovi?
Qualiter infringerem quod firma mente vovi?"
"Spiritus Sancti gratia perficiet haec omnia;
ne timeas, sed gaudeas, secura quod castimonia
manebit in te pura Dei potentia."

"How can I conceive, since I have not known a man?
How can I break the vow I made with firm intent?"
"The grace of the Holy Spirit shall bring all this to pass.
Fear not, but rejoice, secure in the knowledge that pure chastity
shall remain yours through God's mighty power."

Ad haec virgo nobilis respondens inquit ei:
"Ancilla sum humilis omnipotentis Dei.
Tibi caelesti nuntio, tanti secreti conscio
consentiens et cupiens videre factum quod audio;
parata sum parere Dei consilio."

To this the noble Virgin replied, saying:
"I am the lowly handmaiden of Almighty God.
I bend my will to you, O celestial messenger,
who share so great a mystery, and I long to see performed what I now hear.
I am ready to yield myself to God's design."

Eia Mater Domini, quae pacem reddidisti
Angelis et homini, cum Christum genuisti:
tuum exora Filium ut se nobis propitium
exhibeat et deleat peccata: praestans auxilium
vita frui beata post hoc exsilium.

Ah, mother of the Lord, who gave back peace
to angels and mankind when you bore Christ,
pray your son to be gracious to us,
and wipe away our sins, granting us aid
to enjoy a blessed life after this exile.

Today is also the birthday of the "hillbilly Thomist," Flannery O'Connor (1925-1968).

And, courtesy of Mark Shea, it gets better.