Mary's Canticle: The Magnificat
The
Magnificat has occupied an important place in the Liturgy of the Church since
around the fourth century. The canticle is taken from the Gospel of Luke
(1:46-55) where the events of the Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth
are recorded. Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist at the time,
greeted Mary with the well known phrase "Blessed art thou amongst women,
blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus". Mary responded with the canticle.
Today the Magnificat is used during Vespers every evening. http://www.preces-latinae.org/thesaurus/Cantici/Magnificat.html
My
soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God our Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From
this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great
things for me, and holy is his Name.
He
has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.
He
has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He
has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly.
He
has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
He
has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of
mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.
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