The Magnificent "Magnificat"

 

            Mary's song of praise (Luke 11, 46-55) has been a source of inspiration to Christians for centuries.  Luke, the author of the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles was a companion of Saint Paul. He wrote his Gospel in excellent Greek. The name "Magnificat" given to this canticle of Mary refers to the first word of the Latin Vulgate translation of this  text by St. Jerome:  Magnificat anima mea Dominum. "My soul magnifies the Lord."  Composers have found great inspiration in using the Latin text which was used for centuries in the liturgy of the Church. Even the German Lutheran Bach chose to use this Latin text. In its liturgical use the Magnificat was always sung at the close of Vespers.

            An interesting characteristic of this song of Mary is that every line of it has an Old Testament reference.  Of special significance is the Canticle of Hannah in the first book of Samuel. Hannah was a sterile woman to whom the Lord granted a son. Luke presents Mary as a woman totally immersed in the sacred scriptures and aware of her place in the divine plan.  His rendering of Mary's song makes us aware of the role of this "handmaid of the Lord" in our salvation history and how we can learn from her what it means to say "Yes" to God.

            An analysis of each line of the Magnificat  reveals its Old Testament source. Here are some selective references from which the text of the Magnificat is derived.  I will use the translation from the New Jerusalem Bible:

Text of the Magnificat:  (The New Jerusalem Bible and The Vulgate)

            My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
            and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
           Magnificat anima mea Dominum
            et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo.

           source:     I Samuel  2, 1

                           My heart exults in Yahweh, in my God is my strength lifted up,
                            my mouth derides my foes, for I rejoice in your deliverance.

                           Habakkuk  3, 18

                           But I shall rejoice inYahweh,
                            I shall exult in God my Savior.

                           Isaiah 61, 10

                           I exult for joy in Yahweh,
                            my soul rejoices in my God.

                            Deuteronomy 32, 3

                           For I shall proclaim the name of Yahweh,
                            Oh, tell the greatness of our God.
                            (The Song of Moses)

            Because he has looked upon the humiliation of his servant.
            Yes, from now onwards all generations will call me blessed.
           Qui respexit humilitatem ancillae suae,
           ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.

             source:               I Samuel 1, 11

                           Should you condescend to notice
                            the humilation of your servant
                            and keep her in mind instead of
                            disregarding your servant....

            for the Almighty has done great things for me.
            Holy is his name.
           Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est
            et sanctum nomen eius

           source:    Psalm 71, 19

                           You have done great things, God,
                            Who is like you?

                           I Samuel 2, 2

                            There is no Holy One like Yahweh,
                            indeed, there is none but you.

            His faithful love extends age after age to those who fear him
           et misericordia eius a progenie in progenies timentibus eum.

             source:    Psalm 103, 17

                           But Yahweh's faithful love for those who fear him
                            is from eternity and forever

           He has used the power of his arm
           he has routed the arrogant of heart
           Fecit potentiam in bracchio suo
           dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.

            source:     Ben Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 10, 14

                            The Lord has turned mighty princes off their thrones
                            and seated the humble there instead.

                           Psalm 89, 13 (14)

                            Yours is a strong arm, mighty your hand,
                            your right hand raised high.

            He has pulled down princes from their thrones
           and raised high the lowly.
           deposuit potentes de sede,
            et exaltavit humiles.

           source:      I Samuel 2, 8

                           He raises the poor from the dust,
                            he lifts the needy from the dunghill
                            to given them a place with princes.

                           Job 5, 11

                           If his will isto raise up the downcast
                            or exalt the afflicted to the heights....

            He has filled the starving with good things
            sent the rich away empty
           esurientes implevit bonis
            et divites dimisit inanens  

           source:     I Samuel 2, 5

                           The full fed are hiring themselves out for bread
                            but the hungry need labour no more.

                           Psalm 107, 9

                           He has fed the hungry to their hearts' content
                            filled the starving with good things

            He has come to the help of Israel his servant
            mindful of his faithful love.
           Suscepit Israel, puerum suum,
            recordatus misericordiae suae.

            source:    Isaiah 41, 8-9

                           But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen,
                            descendant of Abraham my friend....do not be afraid
                            I am with you.

                            Psalm 98, 2(3)

                            Mindful of his faithful love and his constancy
                            to the House of Israel.

                             Canticle of Esther 4, 17

                            You, Lord, have chosen Israel out of all nations
                            and out ancestors out of all before them.

           According to the promise he made to our ancestors
            of his mercy to Abraham and his descendants for ever.
           sicut locutus est ad patres nostros
            Abraham et semini eius in saecula.

           source:     Genesis  15 and 17 for the promises made to Abraham and the covenant with Abraham and his descendants.  

            The Magnificat as sung in the liturgy ends with the doxology:  "Glory be to the Father..."etc.
which is sometimes omitted in other musical settings.

            This canticle of Mary can be a source of great devotion and spiritual strength for the Christian. It teaches us about real humility which is rooted in truth. It gives credit where credit is due. Each of us can say with Mary  that He who is mighty "has done great things for me."  Luke's Gospel presents Mary as a woman of Old Testament faith who is open to the workings of the Holy Spirit within her.

Richard Cross

Read more at - http://www.users.cloud9.net/~recross/why-not/Magnificat.html