Fieldwork Archive
Las tres Avemarías
Performed by Parroquia de la Iglesia San Nicolás de Tolentino del Laborío.
Recorded December 6, 2025 at Iglesia San Nicolás de Tolentino del Laborío,
León, Nicaragua (acquisition date: December 12, 2025).
Performed during a novena to the Immaculate Conception.
Recorded by Claudio Alexander Urbina on behalf of Derek Piotr.
In the first week of December, Catholics in Nicaragua gather on evenings to pray novenas in preparation for la gritería ("the shout"), a Nicaraguan festival which originated in the early 18th century, held in honor of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, also nicknamed la Purísima.
This holiday celebration holds special significance in the city of León, where it originated.
Here, Fieldwork Archivist Claudio Alexander Urbina joins his parish in the Laborío neighborhood of León in singing three Hail Mary prayers for one of these novenas.
Normally, three Hail Marys are sung in a novena to the Immaculate Conception.
These are interspersed with spoken petitions, which have been omitted from this recording.
The melodies and sets of lyrics assigned to each Hail Mary can vary between each Hail Mary, as well as among parishes or throughout the days of the novena.
First and third Hail Mary:
Dios te salve, María;
llena eres
eres de gracia;
Dios te salve
de las criaturas
la mas bendita
eres María
entre todas las mujeres
y bendito es el fruto
de tu vientre, Jesús.
Santa María,
Madre de Dios,
ruega por nosotros pecadores,
ahora y en la hora
de nuestra muerte.
Amén, Jesús,
Amén, Jesús.
Hail Mary,
you are full
of grace;
Hail,
of all creatures
the most blessed
are you Mary
among all women
and blessed is the fruit
of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour
of our death.
Amen, Jesus,
Amen, Jesus.
Second Hail Mary:
azucena agraciada,
Dios te salve,
violeta perfumada,
Dios te salve, Dios te salve,
inmaculada,
llena eres,
eres de gracia;
el Señor,
el Señor es contigo,
y bendito
y bendito es el fruto
de tu vientre,
de tu vientre, Jesús.
Santa María,
Madre de Dios,
ruega por nosotros pecadores,
ahora y en la hora
de nuestra muerte.
Amén, Jesús,
Amén, Jesús.
gracious lily,
Hail,
fragrant violet,
Hail, Hail,
immaculate,
you are full
of grace;
the Lord,
the Lord is with you,
and blessed
and blessed is the fruit
of your womb,
of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour
of our death.
Amen, Jesus,
Amen, Jesus.
