Shirley Caesar (born October 13, 1938 in Durham, North Carolina) is an Amer… Read Full Bio ↴Shirley Caesar (born October 13, 1938 in Durham, North Carolina) is an American Gospel music singer. She is a multi-award winner with eleven Grammy awards and seven Dove awards to her credit. She is a graduate of Shaw University with a degree in Business Administration. She also received an honorary doctorate from Shaw University and another one from Southeastern University.

Pastor Shirley has recorded over forty albums since the 60s exploring her gift and spreading messages of faith. She has participated in over 16 compilations and three gospel musicals, Mama I Want to Sing, Sing: Mama 2, and Born to Sing: Mama 3. Her credits also include a series of commercials for MCI Communications and several awards for her recordings. She has been awarded 11 Grammy Awards, 13 Stellar Awards, 18 Doves, 3 RIAA gold certifications, an Essence Award, McDonald's Golden Circle Lifetime Achievement Award, NAACP Achievement Award, SESAC Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Pastor Shirley has made several notable appearances including the televised Live from Disney World Night of Joy, the Gospel According to VH-1, a White House performance for George Bush, and a speech on the Evolution of Gospel Music to the US Treasury Department.
She has blessed so many around the world and will remain an example.

Ave Maria
Shirley Caesar Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ave Maria,
Gratia plena,
Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu,
In mulieribus et benedictus,
Fructus ventris tui Jesus.
Sancta Maria! Sancta Maria! Maria!

Ora pro nobis nobis peccatoribus,

Nunc et in hora, in hora mortis nostrae
Amen. Amen.

Overall Meaning

"Ave Maria" is a song by Shirley Caesar that is a tribute to the Virgin Mary, composed of two parts: the first centralizes the person of the Holy Mother and her relationship with Jesus Christ; and the second part is a prayer that asks for her intercession on behalf of humanity, especially for those who have sinned. The first part of the song begins with "Ave Maria," which is the Latin prayer directed to Mary that means "Hail Mary," followed by "Gratia plena," meaning "full of grace," and "Dominus tecum," meaning "the Lord is with thee." These first few lyrics are taken from the Gospel of Luke's account of the Annunciation when the Angel Gabriel appears to Mary and proclaims this to her.

The next line, "Benedicta tu, in mulieribus et benedictus" means "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed," and the final line, "Fructus ventris tui Jesus," translates to "is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus." The first part of the song ends with a repetition of Mary's name in a chant-like manner. The second part of the song is a prayer to Mary asking her to pray for the forgiveness of their sins in this life and in the hour of their death. The prayer continues with "Ora pro nobis nobis peccatoribus," which means "Pray for us sinners", ending with "Amen," which means "so be it."

Line by Line Meaning

Ave Maria,
Hail Mary,

Gratia plena,
Full of grace,

Dominus tecum.
The Lord is with you.

Benedicta tu,
Blessed are you,

In mulieribus et benedictus,
Among women, and blessed

Fructus ventris tui Jesus.
Is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

Sancta Maria! Sancta Maria! Maria!
Holy Mary! Holy Mary! Mary!

Ora pro nobis nobis peccatoribus,
Pray for us sinners,

Nunc et in hora, in hora mortis nostrae
Now and at the hour of our death.

Amen. Amen.
Amen. Amen.

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Walt Disney Music Company
Written by: CLAIR W. JOHNSON, FRANZ ANTON SCHUBERT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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