What is the Magnificat?

The Magnificat is a prayer of praise spoken by the Blessed Virgin Mary during her visit to her cousin Elizabeth. This prayer is recorded in the Gospel of Luke 1:46-55. The name "Magnificat" comes from the first word in the Latin translation of this prayer, which means "magnifies" or "praises."

Text of the Magnificat Prayer

The Magnificat

My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaiden,
For behold, from this day all generations will call me blessed.
For the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.
He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy,
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.

Meaning and Significance

The Magnificat is one of the most important prayers in the Catholic tradition. This prayer expresses Mary's humility and her deep trust in God. In this prayer, Mary praises God for:

• Choosing her as the mother of the Savior despite her lowliness
• God's faithfulness to His promises
• The reversal of worldly values, where the lowly are exalted and the mighty are brought down
• God's justice in filling the hungry with good things and sending the rich away empty

When the Magnificat is Prayed

The Magnificat is an important part of the Catholic Church's Daily Liturgy. Specifically, this prayer is prayed every day during Evening Prayer (Vespers). Many Catholics also pray the Magnificat as part of their personal devotions, especially when contemplating the mysteries in Mary's life.

Spiritual Fruits of the Magnificat Prayer

Praying the Magnificat can help us develop various virtues, including:

• Humility - Like Mary, we are invited to recognize our lowliness before God
• Gratitude - This prayer reminds us to be thankful for God's blessings in our lives
• Trust in God's providence - Mary trusted in God's promises, and we are also invited to do the same
• Social justice - The Magnificat reminds us of God's concern for the poor and oppressed

Conclusion

The Magnificat is a prayer rich in theological and spiritual meaning. When we pray the Magnificat, we join Mary in praising God for His wonderful works and acknowledging His faithfulness to His promises. This prayer also reminds us of the values of God's Kingdom, which often contradict worldly values.