Polorum Regina

Details

Description

Polorum Regina

Transcribed by Al Cofrin
Performed and Recorded by Dr. Stephen Duncan

Medieval pilgrim song to Our Lady of Montserrat

Polorum Regina (Queen Encompassing all of Heaven) is one of 10 songs from the Llibre Vermell (Red Book), a 14th century manuscript kept in the Benedictine Monastery of Montserrat in Catalonia, Spain. Montserrat – meaning “serrated mountain” because of its jagged rocks – has been a major pilgrimage site since the Middle Ages; the pilgrims go to visit a miraculous statue of Our Lady and Christ Child called La Moreneta (The Little Black Lady), said to have been carved in the early days of the Church in Jerusalem.

The purpose for the Llibre Vermell is written in the book itself, as can be seen from a note in the manuscript (presumably written by a medieval monk):

"Because sometimes pilgrims keeping vigil in the church of the Blessed Virgin of Montserrat want to sing and dance – and similarly on the square during daytime – and since it is not appropriate to sing there anything else than honorable and pious songs, above and below some have been written. They should be used neatly and frugally in order not to disturb those who persevere in prayers and pious contemplations, things all who keep vigil should concentrate on and piously apply themselves to."

Written as a round dance, Polorum Regina is a touching and innocent homage to Our Lady's Queenship. In a simple and genial way, the hymn venerates Our Lady’s Perpetual Virginity.