Fernando de las Infantas - Ave Maria

Today is the Feast of the Holy Rosary, because the politically correct Pope Gregory XIII changed the name from the Feast of Our Lady of Victory.  This was in 1573, an age not known for excessive political correctness in the Holy See.  As to how this happened, all I can offer is the standard Roman Catholic answer: It's a mystery.

The victory was the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, where an alliance of Italian and Spanish fleets crushed the Ottoman navy of the Sublime Porte.  It was the last major sea battle where rowed galleys were the main warship, and the Turks were utterly crushed; while they quickly rebuilt the ships, they could never replace the loss of skilled sailors, especially the bowmen which were their primary weapon.  It was the days of wooden ships and iron men, and only the first were easily replaced.

A grateful Christendom rejoiced, and Pope Pius V commissioned a Spanish composer, Fernando de las Infantas, to write a composition in celebration.  de las Infantas responded with Pro victoria navali contra Turcas, which I sadly cannot find anywhere on Youtube.  But fear not, because remember this was originally a celebration for Our Lady of Victory, and so his proto-Baroque Ave Maria will do a nice job as a stand in.

de las Infantas was an interesting bird.  Son of a noble family close to the Spanish Monarchs, he had a privileged upbringing that saw him posted to Rome itself.  Continually in conflicts both theological and musical with the Roman establishment (including no less than Palestrina himself), he was for a time protected by Philip II (of Spanish Armada fame).  His music was very much in the emergent Baroque style as you can hear.

Alas for de las Infantas, he ultimately ran afoul of the Inquisition, was recalled to Spain, and seems to have died in poverty.  His only legacy perhaps is a tribute to Our Lady of Victory.

Ave Maria gratia plena,
Dominus tecum,
Benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus.

Sancta Maria,
regina coeli,
dulcis et pia,
O mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
ut cum electis te videamus.

Salve María, llena eres de Gracia,
el Señor es contigo,
bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres
y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre, Jesús.

Santa María,
reina del Cielo,
dulce y piadosa,
¡Oh Madre de Dios!
ruega por nosotros pecadores,
para que con los elegidos
podamos contemplarte.

Hail Mary, full of grace.
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary,
queen of heaven,
sweet and loving,
O mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
that we may see thee with the chosen one.

May your day be similarly victorious.