Wednesday, July 22, 2020
Magnificat
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
In the tradition of The Liturgy of the Hours the Magnificat is sung as part of Vespers, or Evening Prayer. For the entire prayer, go to the Bible Gateway site linked in the citation above and explore the various interpretations of these verses.
God says: Imagine what I hear when so many voices are raised to me each evening with these words of Mary. It is most pleasing to hear the babel of your many languages and even more pleasing to hear the petitions you lift up to me as you pray. Do not worry if you find that the details of your life call you away at the appointed Evensong. As best you can, pause for a moment to remember me and our Mother Mary who bravely stepped forward so that I might come to live among you. Just say the word “Magnificat” with deep intention before you move into your evening. I will unite your word with the other prayers that fly to me. Remember always how much Mary loves you as the sisters and brothers of Jesus. And remember always that I also love you.
These words of Mary express the hope of all. Let us spend a few moments of our precious time to unite ourselves with her and those millions of others who lift these verses to God each day as the evening closes in.
Image from: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Society-of-Our-Lady-of-the-Magnificat/270422953001042
To read more about Mary’s own Prayer by Fr. John A. Harden, S.J., go to: http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=7340
To visit with a homily about this prayer by Msgr. Charles Pope and to reflect on an image of Elizabeth greeting Mary, go to: http://blog.adw.org/2010/12/the-magnificat-is-a-bold-prayer/
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