Magnificat
1. My soul doth magnify the Lord.
2. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
3. Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
4. Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is his name.
5. And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.
6. He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
7. He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble.
8. He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.
9. He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy.
10. As he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his seed for ever.
11. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
12. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Click here for the Latin lyrics.
These verses were written by Our Lady herself, springing up from her habitual disposition of thanksgiving to God for all He had given her. You can see how high her soul habitually dwells when reading this lofty poem, recorded for us by the Evangelist St. Luke (Chapter 1), who was inspired by the Holy Spirit. She had just been praised by St. Elizabeth for having believed the word of God - and how does she react? By denying the graces she had received? No, instead she refers all glory to God to whom it belongs. So also should we admit to our strengths, just as to our weaknesses, attributing the strengths to God's grace and the weaknesses to our own failings. Thus can we imitate her who is above all creatures, in the highest glory possible for a creature. The Mother of God suffered so generously, and abased herself in the deepest humility while she was on earth. "Because he hath regarded the humility of His handmaid."
This is sung at the end of Solemn Vespers, right after the Vespers hymn. There is always an antiphon sung before and after it, proper to the day's feast.
This is found on the following CD(s):
Chant Compendium 1, and
Chant Compendium 3.
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