Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6,10; 1 Corinthians 15:20-27; Luke 1:39-56
The Magnificat, Mary’s Hymn of Praise, has been a part of the Church’s liturgy since the 6th century of Christianity. Religious and ordained ministers pray this canticle every day during evening vespers. It also has been chosen as the prayer for different religious organizations through the centuries. Even so, having prayed this myself for twenty-three years as a priest and seminarian, I have never really taken the time to study this beautiful hymn. This week I took the time to come to know this canticle and share with you some of my findings.
It was a common practice for Jewish women to break into song upon hearing the news of their pregnancy. This was conditioned in part because of the Jewish understanding of eternal life. In ancient times, before the existence of heaven and hell was revealed to the people of Israel, it was believed that eternal life came only through offspring. To have no children was a sign that God did not want you to live for ever. This was the plight of Abraham and Sarah when God established the first covenant with them. Elderly and barren, Sarah and Abraham had no heirs and would be forever forgotten in human memory.
But on the basis of their faith God promised them heirs beyond their imagining which would come about through an only beloved Son which he would give to them. God would show to them though that it is not through blood that they would be remembered forever. Rather their descendants would be all the people of faith. Today, Jews, Christians, and Muslims all revere Abraham and Sarah as the mother and father of faith.
This song of praise proclaimed by pregnant women has its finest example in the prayer of Hannah. Hannah was barren and unable to produce an heir for her husband Elkanah. Praying in the temple at Shiloh she met the prophet Eli, who at first chastised her because he thought she was drunk. After Hannah explained her plight to him, Eli saw the tremendous faith in this woman’s heart and prophesied that she would bear a son. Hannah and Elkanah conceived a son and named him Samuel. When the child was old enough to be weaned they gave him back to the Lord, through the prophet Eli, who raised Samuel to adulthood. Samuel was destined to be the priest who would anoint Saul, the first king of Israel, and then Saul’s successor, King David. Upon presenting Samuel in the temple Hannah broke out in a song of praise that was echoed by our Mother Mary in her hymn of praise known as “The Magnificat.”
The verses of this hymn of praise reference 29 Old Testament passages.  New Testament writers referred five times to these verses in their writings. This teaches us that this hymn is steeped in the story of salvation history. It is considered the last Old Testament canticle and the first New Testament canticle.
Our Mother Mary, oftentimes referred to as the New Israel, symbolizes for us the beginning of the establishment of the New Covenant. In this hymn Mary recognizes not just her own identification with Israel. She recognizes also that the One whom she bears in her womb is the fulfillment of the promise of mercy and justice for Israel. In other words Mary’s hymn of praise identifies her as the first disciple of the Christ.
As His disciple her hymn teaches us what our role as disciples is to be. First of all, we are to be people of praise “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior” (Luke 1:46-47).
As a Christian people we are to remember and pay homage our Mother Mary, just as we remember Abraham and Sarah “now will all ages call me blessed”(Luke 1:48). We are to honor and revere her not because of anything she has done, but rather for what God has done through her.
As the perfect model of discipleship she turns our attention next to the role of the Christian in the world. As disciples we are to work for justice, just as God has brought about justice “He has shown the strength of his arm and scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things while the rich he has sent away empty” (Luke 1:51-53).
This work for justice though we are reminded must always be tempered by God’s mercy “His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him . . . He has come to the help of His servant Israel remembering his mercy” (Luke 1:50,54). To the ancient Jewish people God’s mercy and justice are intertwined with each other. True justice must always be merciful, always prepared to forgive. True mercy though must always be just. It is one thing to forgive a person’s sin of injustice. It is quite another to allow them to continue to do the injustice.
So on this Feast of the Assumption, when we celebrate our Mother Mary’s entrance into heaven, we give God thanks and praise for her place in salvation in history and for her model of discipleship. We ask for the grace to bring God’s justice and mercy to our world today and for all generations. We look forward to that day when we will be united with our Mother Mary, and all who have died in faith, in her Son’s heavenly kingdom.
Scripture references from the New American Bible
46 And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord (Psalm 35:9; Isaiah 61:10; Hebrews 3:18)47 my spirit rejoices in God my savior (Titus 3:4; Jude 2:5). 48 For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed (1 Samuel 1:11; 2 Samuel 16:12; 2 Kings 14:26; Psalm 113:7). 49 The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name (Deuteronomy 10:21; Psalm 71:19; 111:9; 126:23). 50 His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him (Psalm 89:2, 103:13,17). 51 He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart (Psalm 89:10; 118:15; Jeremiah 32:17). 52 He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly (1 Samuel 2:7; 2 Samuel 22:28; Job 5:11, 12:19; Psalm 147:6; Sirach 10:14; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). 53 The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty (1 Samuel 2:5; Psalm 107:9). 54 He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy ({sa;, 98:3’ Isaiah 41:8-9), 55 according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever (Genesis 13:15; 17:7; 18:18; 22:17-18; Micah 7:20).” 56 Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
Twenty-nine Old Testament references
Five times referenced in the writings of the New Testament
