Magnificat

Notes of meeting on 31 May 2016

Luke 1:39-56

³⁹ Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could into the hill country to a town in Judah.

⁴⁰ She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth.

⁴¹ Now it happened that as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
⁴² She gave a loud cry and said, 'Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
⁴³ Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?
⁴⁴ Look, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy.
⁴⁵ Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.'
⁴⁶ And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;
⁴⁸ because he has looked upon the humiliation of his servant. Yes, from now onwards all generations will call me blessed,
⁴⁹ for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name,
⁵⁰ and his faithful love extends age after age to those who fear him.
⁵¹ He has used the power of his arm, he has routed the arrogant of heart.
⁵² He has pulled down princes from their thrones and raised high the lowly.
⁵³ He has filled the starving with good things, sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his faithful love
⁵⁵ -according to the promise he made to our ancestors -- of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.
⁵⁶ Mary stayed with her some three months and then went home.

Reflection on Luke 1:39-56  •  Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Feast) - from Bible Alive
http://www.alivepublishing.co.uk/2016/05/tuesday-31-may/

The Magnificat is a hymn of praise and celebration of God’s great mercy. In this special and extraordinary Year of Mercy, Mary our Mother in Faith, the Mother of God, watches over us and intercedes for us that each of us would rediscover the joy and tender mercy of God. Her hymn of praise reflects a unique insight into the mystery of our salvation. To pray the Magnificat is a great privilege because in it we touch Mary’s profound insight into the mercy of God. Her hymn of praise, sung as it was at the threshold of the home of Elizabeth, was dedicated to the mercy of God which extends from ‘generation to generation’ (v. 50). Her prayer of praise was the fruit of her experience of God.
The Holy Spirit moves us to make this holy prayer our own. We too can sing the Magnificat because when we contemplate and meditate on what God has done for us in Christ we can but glorify the Lord and rejoice in God our Saviour. The Mighty One has done great things for us too – we have received baptism, the sacraments, the Eucharist, the teaching of the Church, the many graces and blessings. God’s mercy has rained down on every generation. We were hungry but God has filled us with good things – the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
We venerate this special prayer in the Church’s life and especially so in the Year of Mercy, because Mary, although conceived immaculately, rejoices in God’s mercy towards her. How much more can we, who were born into original sin but blessed with the grace of baptism and the forgiveness of our sins, sing a song of praise, thanksgiving and gratitude to the God of mercy and compassion.
‘Therefore it is an excellent and fruitful custom of holy Church that we should sing Mary’s hymn at the time of evening prayer. By meditating upon the incarnation, our devotion is kindled, and by remembering the example of God’s Mother, we are encouraged to lead a life of virtue. Such virtues are best achieved in the evening. We are weary after the day’s work and worn out by our distractions. The time for rest is near, and our minds are ready for contemplation.’ (St Bede)