La Virgen del Buen Suceso (The Virgin of Good Success) is a beautiful hymn to Our Lady that originates from Lastres, a small Spanish coastal village in Asturias. The composer of the hymn is unknown, but the people of Lastres have been singing the song there for a long time.
The fishermen of Lastres invoke Our Lady of Good Success as their Patroness. Every year on
September 8, the people of the village attend a solemn Mass and process from the Church of Santa Maria de Sábada to the Hermitage of Good Success. Members of the Spanish Navy, Army and the Legion escort the statue of Our Lady of Good Success through the streets. This is the hymn sung during their celebrations.
The song has many sea-related images: it compares Our Lady of Good Success to a lighthouse, guiding boats safely to shore and saving sailors from shipwreck. It is a tender song to Our Lady, boasting that She is the “love of my soul ever since I learned how to love”.
La Virgen del Buen Suceso is here interpreted by the Coro San Roque of Llastres.
Listen to La Virgen del Buen Suceso
Lyrics:
Spanish lyrics
1. La Virgen del Buen Suceso
Es el Faro de la mar,
Es el amor de mi alma
Desde que yo supe amar.
Ella en mi niñez
Mi cuna meció,
Por eso desde niño
Siempre la quise yo. (x2)
2. En este mar de la vida
Mi barca hacia Ella volví,
Y escuche de aquellos labios
“No temas, velo por ti.”
Por eso en la mar
[Mi barca] jamás naufragó,
Por eso desde niño
Siempre la quise yo. (x2)
3. Hoy hallo a su dulce amparo
La dicha que siempre ansié,
A la Virgen de mi pueblo,
El pensamiento se fue.
Y el alma también
Tras ella voló,
Por eso desde niño
Siempre la quise yo. (x2)
English translation:
1. The Virgin of Good Success
Is the lighthouse of the sea,
She is the love of my soul
Ever since I learned how to love.
She in my childhood
Rocked my crib,
This is why since I was a child
I have always loved her.
2. In this sea of life
I turned my boat toward her.
And I heard from those lips
“Do not fear, I am taking care of you.”
This is why on the sea
[My boat] was never shipwrecked,
This is why since I was a child
I have always loved her.
3. Today I find her sweet shelter
The bliss I have always longed for,
Toward the Virgin of my village
My thoughts had flown.
And my soul also
Flew after her,
This is why since I was a child
I have always loved her.
