The swetnesse his herte perced so
Of Cristes mooder that, to hire to preye,
He kan nat stynte of syngyng by the weye.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Prioress’ Tale. The little choir boy is completely taken with the Virgin Mary, the Prioress tells us. The Prioress depicts him in an enraptured state, walking to and from between his home and school singing Alma Redemptoris Mater, a hymn of praise to the Mother of God.