It would be a nice story for me to tell, that like Franz Schubert or Charles Gounod, or any of the many others that composed renditions of Ave Maria, I laboriously spent countless evenings by flickering candlelight, when composing mine. A nice story, but not true. The truth is that it was much easier for me than it was for them. I was blessed with the gift of hearing my version in a dream, with angels singing it. I simply got up and copied what I had heard.

I’m sure you’ll enjoy listening to my piece’s beautiful melody and harmonies, but of equal importance is its enclosed plea for divine intervention. In a world greatly troubled with wars, terrorism, immorality, greed and selfishness, I felt compelled to use the opportunity by asking for help from Mary, the Blessed Mother of Jesus, the Son of God.

Where the piece, and prayer, would normally end with “Nunc et in hora mortis nostrae” (now, and at the hour of our death), I inserted these addendum lyrics in Latin:

“Sancta Maria, Beata et casta: ora pro nobis, aduiva nos. Egemus tua caritate.” *

In English: “Holy Mary, Blessed and pure: pray for us; help us. We need your love.” Roger Rossi, composer

* Latin translation by David Harvey, New Canaan, Ct.