The Knights Hospitaller Chant: Salve Regina Solemn

The Knights loved our Lady tremendously and this song said to have been composed by various authors such as Hermann of Reichenau, and Bernard of Clairveaux. It was one of their favorites. They felt they could do anything while under the Virgin’s mantle. Traditionally sung after compline, the Salve Regina has an interesting legend associated with it: “Jean l’Hermite dreamt that Bernard of Clairvaux heard the entire hymn sung by heavenly choirs; he then repeated the words to Pope Eugene III. In an extension of this legend, it is reported that Bernard visited the great cathedral of Speyer in 1146. When he entered the cathedral, he reverenced Our Lady’s statue, chanting: “O thou deboner, o thou meke, o thou swete maide Marie.”