Small Catholic

Revised and updated from my original post in 2006.

Advent is a beautiful time to emphasize Our Lady and hymns about her fiat and her pregnancy can be especially thoughtful and prayerful. Here are a few of our family favorites.

Maria Walks Amid the Thorn

Lyrics and a midi file can be found here.

The Angel Gabriel/Gabriel’s Message

Lyrics and a midi file can be found here.

This is the version Sting performed about 40 years ago which re-popularized the song. I like the music, but not so much the video:

A more traditional rendition:

Be Born in Me – Francesca Battistelli

Alma Redemptoris Mater
(Marian antiphon for Advent)

Click to enlarge the music to this chant:

Here’s a decent way to learn the traditional chant:

Palestrina’s gorgeous polyphonic version:

More about Marian antiphons here

You may find this article from First Things interesting and relevant.