Ave Maria
Stevie Wonder Lyrics

Stevie Wonder's rendition of Ave Maria is a beautiful tribute to the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. The lyrics are in Latin, the traditional language of the Catholic Church, and are a prayer asking for the Virgin Mary's intercession with God on our behalf. The phrase "Ave Maria" is a greeting that means "Hail Mary" and is often used as a way of showing respect and devotion to the Virgin Mary.

The first line, "Ave Maria, gratia plena" translates to "Hail Mary, full of grace." This line is a reference to the angel Gabriel's greeting to Mary when he tells her she has been chosen to bear the Son of God. The next line repeats the phrase "Maria, gratia plena," emphasizing the importance of Mary's role in the story of Christ's birth. The third and fourth lines, "Ave, ave dominus, Dominus tecum," translate to "Hail, hail, Lord, the Lord is with you." This line is a reminder that Mary was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus and is a sign of God's favor.

The final four lines repeat the previous phrases and add the line "Et benedictus fructus ventris tuae, Jesu," which means "and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus." This line acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God and that his birth was made possible through Mary's obedience to God's will. The prayer ends with a repeat of the phrase "Ave Maria," emphasizing the importance of the Virgin Mary as a mediator between humanity and God.