Today, February 11th is the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

In honor of this special day, I’m returning to my Lourdes Series.

A Marian Hymn

Immaculate Mary is a popular Roman Catholic Marian hymn.

It’s also called Immaculate Mother or The Lourdes Hymn.

The earliest version was written in 1873 by French priest and seminary director Jean Gaignet.

It was set to a traditional French tune and included 8 verses. Fr. Gaignet later expanded it to 120 verses.

He wrote the hymn for pilgrims to the site of the apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes.

It’s often sung on the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as well as other Marian feasts.

Sometimes the refrain is sung after each decade of the Rosary. This is done at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France during the Torchlight Marian Procession.

Many versions of the hymn are used in different parts of the world. They are often original sets of lyrics in different languages, all set to the same tune, theme and refrain.

Click here to listen to one version.

The text for the version I’m most familiar with is below.

I pray you have a blessed feast!

Immaculate Mary

(The Lourdes Hymn)

Immaculate Mary, your praises we sing.
You reign now in splendor with Jesus our King.

Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria!

In Heaven the blessed your glory proclaim;
On earth we your children invoke your fair name.

Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria!

We pray for our Mother, the Church upon earth,
And bless, Holy Mary, the land of our birth.

Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria!