Devotees flock to the grand procession of the image of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, La Naval in Quezon City on October 8, 2023. The feast, which honors the Virgin Mary, traces its origins to the naval victory in defense of the country from the Dutch in the 1600s, attributed to the intercession of the Virgin Mary. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/file 

MANILA - The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has released an "alternative" Filipino translation of the Hail Mary prayer. 

Instead of the Tagalog-based "Aba Ginoong Maria," the newly-approved text is bannered as "Ave Maria," like in the Latin version. 

The new version was approved in the CBCP's recent plenary session just as the Catholic Church entered its Jubilee Year of 2025.

 According to Msgr. Bernardo Pantin, CBCP Secretary General, the new text does not replace the old version but an attempt to provide a more faithful and accurate translation of the original text.

 "[It’s] more contextualized, simple and adaptable to the changing times, as well as enhances our understanding and appreciation of the significance and richness of its biblico-theological foundation," Pantin said.

 The CBCP also explained that the revision was centered around the principles of biblical accuracy and prayerfulness.

 "The revisions are guided by: faithfulness to the original Latin text, bible-based, simplicity, prayerfulness, adaptability to the changing times and in the Philippine context, and the spirit of synodality that all may be one," the Filipino bishops said. 

Below is the text of both the Tagalog version and the newly-released version of the prayer:

ABA GINOONG MARIA (Tagalog version)

Aba Ginoong Maria

napupuno ka ng grasya, 

ang Panginoong Diyos 

ay sumasaiyo. 

Bukod kang pinagpala 

sa babaeng lahat at

pinagpala naman 

ang iyong Anak

na si Hesus.

Santa Maria, 

Ina ng Diyos, 

ipanalangin mo kaming

makasalanan ngayon

at kung kami'y mamamatay. 

Amen.

AVE MARIA (Alternative Filipino version)

Ave Maria,

puno ka ng grasya,

ang Panginoon

ay sumasaiyo. 

Pinagpala ka sa kababaihan

at pinagpala ang bunga

ng iyong sinapupunan

na si Jesus.

Santa Maria, 

Ina ng Diyos, 

ipanalangin mo kaming

makasalanan ngayon

at sa oras ng aming kamatayan. 

Amen.

This move marked the 50th anniversary of the CBCP pastoral letter on the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ang Mahal na Birheng Maria, issued on Feb 2, 1975.

 The pastoral letter highlighted the Filipinos' immense devotion to the Virgin Mary as well as pastoral reflections and guidance for the faithful's veneration.

 The Ave Maria prayer is perhaps the most popular Marian prayers.

 The first part of the prayer was taken from the gospel of Luke -- the words of angel Gabriel to Mary and Elizabeth's greeting during the visitation (Luke 1:28 and 1:42).

 In a general audience in 1997, then Pope John Paul II explained that the Latin word "ave" translates the word Greek  "chaire," which means an invitation to joy and could be translated as "rejoice."