Ave, Maria, Glory's Queen,
Our Load-star and Defender —
Homage to thee, on shore and sea,
Our grateful spirits render;
To thee who guid'st the fisher's bark
And lead'st the wildered stranger,
When all behind is drear and dark,
And all before is danger.
With fervent vow to thee we bow,
The Friend that never faileth;
When storms appear, thou still art near
To succour him that saileth.

Our wives are watching on the shore,
Our children call their fathers;
They quake to hear the tempest roar,
And tremble as it gathers;
The leven flashes on our bows —
Yon mountain, rent asunder,
Writhes like a giant in his throes
And weeps in molten thunder.
To thee, to thee we bow the knee —
Our Friend who never faileth,
When tempests sweep the yawning deep,
To succour him that saileth,

No lingering star illumes our path;
The night scowls drear and drearer;
But, smiling through the tempest's wrath,
We know that thou art nearer;
We know our wives and children keep
Their fast before thine altar;
Thou wilt not leave their eyes to weep,
Their faithful hearts to falter.
To thee, to thee we bow the knee,
Our Friend who never faileth,
When tempests sweep the yawning deep,
To succour him that saileth.

Ave, Maria, glorious Star,
Where midnight horrors muster,
Thou giv'st the moon her silver car,
The sky its holy lustre;
At thy behest the billows roar,
At thy command they slumber;
Oh, softly guide our helm ashore
Whom night and storm encumber.
With fervant vow to thee we bow,
The Friend that never faileth,
When tempests sweep the foaming deep,
To succour him that saileth.