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The Magnificat
(also known as the Song of Mary
) is a canticle frequently sung (or spoken) liturgically in Christian church services. The text of the canticle is taken directly from the Gospel of Luke () where it is spoken by the Virgin Mary upon the occasion of her Visitation to her cousin Elizabeth. In the narrative, after Mary greets Elizabeth, who is pregnant with the future John the Baptist, the child moves within Elizabeth's womb. When Elizabeth praises Mary for her faith, Mary sings the Magnificat
in response.
The canticle echoes several Old Testament biblical passages, but the most pronounced allusions are to the Song of Hannah, from the Books of Samuel (). Along with the Benedictus, as well as several Old Testament canticles, the Magnificat
is included in the Book of Odes, an ancient liturgical collection found in some manuscripts of the Septuagint.
Within Christianity, the Magnificat
is most frequently recited within the Liturgy of the Hours. In Western Christianity, the Magnificat
is most often sung or recited during the main evening prayer service: Vespers within Roman Catholicism and Evening Prayer (or Evensong) within Anglicanism. In Eastern Christianity, the Magnificat
is usually sung at Sunday Matins. Within protestant groups, the Magnificat
may be sung during worship services.
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MAGNIFICAT TICKETS
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Text
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Bouguereau, an example of
Marian art
Like all other
New Testament texts the
Magnificat
was originally written in
Greek. However, in the
Western Church it is most often to be found in
Latin or the vernacular. Its name comes from the first word of the Latin version (see
incipit).
Greek:
?e?a???e? ? ???? µ?? t?? ??????
?a? ??a???ase? t? p?e?µ? µ?? ?p? t? Te? t? s?t??? µ??,
?t? ?p?ß?e?e? ?p? t?? tape???s?? t?? d????? a?t??.
?d?? ??? ?p? t?? ??? µa?a????s?? µe p?sa? a? ?e?ea?,
?t? ?p???s?? µ?? µe???a ? d??at??,
?a? ????? t? ???µa a?t??,
?a? t? ??e?? a?t?? e?? ?e?e?? ?a? ?e?e??
t??? f?ß??µ????? a?t??.
?p???se? ???t?? ?? ß?a????? a?t??,
d?es???p?se? ?pe??f????? d?a???? ?a?d?a? a?t??·
?a?e??e? d???sta? ?p? ??????
?a? ???se? tape?????,
pe????ta? ???p??se? ??a???
?a? p???t???ta? ??ap?ste??e? ?e????.
??te??ßet? ?s?a?? pa?d?? a?t??,
µ??s???a? ??????,
?a??? ?????se? p??? t??? pat??a? ?µ??
t? ?ß?a?µ ?a? t? sp??µat? a?t?? e?? t?? a???a. [1]
Latin:
Magnificat anima mea Dominum,
et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salvatore meo,
quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae.
Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes,
quia fecit mihi magna, qui potens est,
et sanctum nomen eius,
et misericordia eius in progenies et progenies
timentibus eum.
Fecit potentiam in brachio suo,
dispersit superbos mente cordis sui;
deposuit potentes de sede
et exaltavit humiles;
esurientes implevit bonis
et divites dimisit inanes.
Suscepit Israel puerum suum,
recordatus misericordiae,
sicut locutus est ad patres nostros,
Abraham et semini eius in saecula. [2]
English (
Douay-Rheims
):
My soul doth magnify the Lord.
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name.
And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.
He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy:
As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.
English (
Book of Common Prayer
):
Roman Catholic Mariology
A series of articles on
Marian Prayers
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Alma Redemptoris Mater
Angelus
As a Child I Loved You
Ave Maria
Ave Maris Stella
Ave Regina Caelorum
Hail Mary of Gold
Fatima Prayer
Flos Carmeli
Immaculata prayer
Immaculate Mary
Magnificat
Memorare
Mary Our Queen
Regina Coeli
Rosary
Salve Regina
Stabat Mater
Sub Tuum Praesidum
Three Hail Marys
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My soul doth magnify the Lord : and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded : the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth : all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me : and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him : throughout all generations.
He hath shewed strength with his arm : he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat : and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things : and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel : as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.
English (
The Divine Office
):
My soul glorifies the Lord, *
my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.
He looks on his servant in her lowliness; *
henceforth all ages will call me blessed.
The Almighty works marvels for me. *
Holy his name!
His mercy is from age to age, *
on those who fear him.
He puts forth his arm in strength *
and scatters the proud-hearted.
He casts the mighty from their thrones *
and raises the lowly.
He fills the starving with good things, *
sends the rich away empty.
He protects Israel, his servant, *
remembering his mercy,
the mercy promised to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his sons for ever.
English (
Common Worship
):
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;
he has looked with favour on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed;
the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his name.
He has mercy on those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm
and has scattered the proud in their conceit,
Casting down the mighty from their thrones
and lifting up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,
to remember his promise of mercy,
The promise made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Liturgical use
Key articles on
Mariology
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General perspective
Mother of Jesus • Blessed Virgin
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Specific views
Anglican • Eastern Orthodox • Marian veneration • Muslim • Protestant • Roman Catholic
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Key prayers & devotions
Angelus • Hail Mary • Rosary
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Ecumenical
Ecumenical views
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The text forms a part of the
daily office in the
Roman Catholic Vespers service, the
Lutheran Vespers or
Evening Prayer service, and the
Anglican services of
Evening Prayer according to both the
Book of Common Prayer
and
Common Worship
(see
Evening Prayer (Anglican)). In the
Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer service it is paired with the
Nunc dimittis. (Modern Anglican rubrics generally allow for a wider selection of canticles at Evening Prayer; but the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis remain the most popular.) In Anglican, Lutheran and Roman Catholic services it is generally followed by the
Gloria Patri. It has accordingly been a popular text for many composers.
Perhaps the best known
Magnificat
settings are those from
Claudio Monteverdi's
Vespers for the Blessed Virgin, 1610 or the extended setting by
Johann Sebastian Bach,
BWV 243. In the same vein, many other "classical" composers such as
Vivaldi and
Rachmaninoff and more recently
John Rutter have set extended versions for orchestra, chorus, and solos. However, most of these concerted settings were neither intended nor convenient for liturgical use; more often choirs will sing a shorter, simpler setting
a cappella or with only
organ accompaniment. Several such settings from the
Renaissance remain popular (for example, that of
Thomas Tallis); and nearly every composer in the 19th and 20th century
Anglican choral tradition has composed one or more settings of the "Mag and Nunc", as have
Arvo Pärt and
John Tavener. Since these canticles are sung nearly every day at some
Cathedrals and
Oxbridge college chapels, there is a real need for multiple settings; at its extreme this led such composers as
Charles Villiers Stanford to write a Magnificat in every major key;
Herbert Howells, another noted composer of these canticles, published twenty settings of them over his career.
Anton Bruckner only wrote one
Magnificat.
In
Eastern Orthodox worship, the Magnificat is usually sung during the
Matins service before the
Irmos
of the ninth ode of the
canon. After each verse the
troparion is sung:
"More honourable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, without corruption thou gavest birth to God the Word: true Theotokos, we magnify thee."
Society and politics
- In Nicaragua, the Magnificat is a favourite prayer among many peasants and is often carried as an amulet. During the Somoza years, campesinos were required to carry proof of having voted for Somoza and this document was mockingly referred to as the Magnificat. [3]
References
- The Resurgence Greek Project
- Evangelium secundum Lucam
- 'The Gospel in Solentiname', Ernesto Cardenal (Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1978) p.25.