The Magnificat: Step-by-step

The Magnificat is a beautiful hymn of praise spoken by Mary, the Mother of God. In our upcoming Saint Joseph animation, we offer a unique reflection: Joseph, the quiet guardian of the Holy Family, sings this hymn with reverence and awe. He contemplates the mercy and majesty of God working through the Blessed Virgin Mary.

I thought it would be fruitful to take you through the Magnificat and explore each part. May this reflection draw you closer to Jesus through Mary.

The Magnificat is deeply rooted in Old Testament passages. It also is not a private prayer whispered in solitude, but pours forth during one of Scripture’s most tender encounters, Mary’s visit to Elizabeth. Upon receiving the message from the angel Gabriel that she would conceive the Son of God, Mary does not isolate herself. Instead, she “set out in haste” to the hill country to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who also was miraculously expecting.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord

Another way of translating this is, “My soul magnifies the greatness of the Lord.” The word Magnificat comes from the Latin for “magnifies,” setting the tone for the hymn, that it is Mary glorifying God.

My spirit rejoices in God my Savior

Saint Basil highlights that Mary, who has received the fullnesses of grace, expresses here one of the first fruits of the Holy Spirit — joy. It is the joy of a heart in perfect harmony with the will of God.

For he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

Saint Bede, an English monk of the Middle Ages, writes: “It was fitting, then, that just as death entered the world through the pride of our first parents, the entry of Life should be manifested by the humility of Mary.” God exalts the humble, and Mary’s lowliness becomes the gateway of salvation.

From this day all generations will call me blessed

Mary, as the New Eve, is foreshadowed by the strong, faithful women of the Old Testament. This verse of the Magnificat echoes Jael’s triumph over the Canaanite general Sisera, found in the victory Song of Deborah.

Most blessed of women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, blessed among tent-dwelling women!

Judges 5:24

This verse also mirrors the acclaim of Judith, who trumphed over Holofernes.

Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God, above all the women on earth; and blessed be the Lord God, the creator of heaven and earth, who guided your blow at the head of the leader of our enemies.

Judith 13:18

While Jael and Judith bring temporary military victories, Mary and Jesus bring the final victory over sin and death.

The words in this verse do not fall short. From the early centuries we see the Church honoring Mary, calling her blessed and affirming her title Theotokos, Mother of God (cf. Lumen Gentium, 66).

The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.
Mary gives all credit and glory to God for the good that has come upon her. What are these “great things?” A virgin has conceived by His Holy Will; the long-awaited Messiah now dwells within her. He has bestowed on her the grace of being the mother of our Savior.

He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.

Saint John Paul II wrote:

Mary, then, is the one who has the deepest knowledge of the mystery of God’s mercy. She knows its price, she knows how great it is. In this sense, we call her the Mother of mercy.

Mary stands as a witness to divine mercy - not only receiving it, but becoming a channel of it for the world.

He has shown the strength of his arm

We see references to God’s strong arm throughout Scripture. The strong arm of the Lord is always used for saving His people. We see in Psalm 20:7:

“Now I know the Lord gives victory to his anointed. He will answer him from the holy heavens with a strong arm that brings victory.”

God’s saving arm is Jesus Christ, the anointed one, who saves the world from sin.

He has scattered the proud in their conceit.

After the Fall, Adam and Eve are removed from the Garden of Eden due to their pride. After the tower of Babel, the people are scattered throughout the land due to their pride. After ?, the Jewish people were scattered throughout the land due to their sin of pride. Pride scatters and divides. Through Mary, the humble handmaid, we receive the antidote to the pride of humanity.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly.

This great reversal of fortunes is central to the Kingdom of God. Earthly power fades, but God raises the humble to share in His glory. “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11).

He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.

God always provides for and nourishes His people.

• When Israel was wandering through the desert, He gave them manna (Exodus 16).

• When Elijah was fleeing for his life, He sent an angel to bring him food (1 Kings 19:5-8).

• When there was a famine Elisha fed a hundred with only twenty barley loaves (2 Kings 4:42-44).

• Jesus feeds the 5000 (Matthew 14:13-21) and Jesus feeds the 4000 (Matthew 15:32-39).

Jesus tells the rich young man that to enter the Kingdom of God, he must give up his wealth and trust in Him.

If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to [the] poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 19:21

Mary knows that God calls us to trust in Him and not in riches. God continues to sustain us as we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” It is not just by physical substance the He sustains us, through Mary, God provided the Bread of Life.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

God is faithful. He comes to the aid of His people not because they are great, but because He is merciful.

You are my servant;
I chose you, I have not rejected you—
Do not fear: I am with you;
do not be anxious: I am your God.
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41:9b-10

For he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.

So important and central is God’s loving mercy that it is brought up a second time in Mary’s Magnificat. God’s covenants made with the Patriarch’s are not forgotten and they are not denied. They are all completely fulfilled with Jesus Christ. Mary bears in her womb the fulfillment of every promise.

Final Thoughts

The Magnificat masterfully weaves in great hymns of Israel: the Song of Hannah (1 Samuel 2:1-10), the Song of the Sea (Exodus 15), and the Song of Deborah (Judges 5). Mary speaks the language of Scripture because her soul is steeped in it. She gives us a new psalm of victory. She praises God for the final victory, the coming of the Savior, the fruit of the very first prophecy of God’s plan of salvation.

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; They will strike at your head, while you strike at their heel”

Genesis 3:15

Saint Josemaría Escrivá wrote:

Our prayer can accompany and imitate this prayer of Mary. Like her, we feel the desire to sing, to acclaim the wonders of God, so that all mankind and all creation may share our joy.

In our Saint Joseph animation, we portray him reflecting on these mysteries in his heart, singing Mary’s Magnificat in contemplation. We invite you to join in reflecting deeper on her beautiful song of praise to God.

In Christ,

Trevor

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