Magnificat

/mag nif"i kat', -kaht'; mahg nif"i kaht', mahn yif"-/, n.

1. (italics) the hymn of the Virgin Mary in Luke, 1:46-55, beginning "My soul doth magnify the Lord," used as a canticle at evensong or vespers.

2. a musical setting for this.

[1150-1200; ME < L: (it) magnifies (from the first word of the hymn)]

* * *

▪ biblical canticle

      in Christianity, the hymn of praise by Mary, the mother of Jesus, found in Luke 1:46–55 and incorporated into the liturgical services of the Western churches (at vespers) and of the Eastern Orthodox churches (at the morning services). Though some scholars have contended that this canticle was a song of Elizabeth (the wife of Zechariah and the mother of John the Baptist), a relative of Mary, most early Greek and Latin manuscripts regard it as the “Song of Mary.”

      It is named after the first word of its first line in Latin (“Magnificat anima mea Dominum,” or “My soul magnifies the Lord”). Elaborate musical settings have been created for the Magnificat. It has been chanted in all eight modes of the plainsong and has been the subject of numerous other settings. The Magnificat is sung each day at evening prayer, or vespers, in religious houses and in those other churches where vespers is celebrated.

      The following are the texts of the Magnificat in the Latin Vulgate version and the English Revised Standard Version:

Magnificat anima mea Dominum

et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo

salutari 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 Israhel puerum suum

memorari misericordiae

sicut locutus est ad patres nostros

Abraham et semini eius in saecula.

My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my

Savior,

for he has regarded the low estate

of his handmaiden.

For behold, henceforth all generations

will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great

things for me,

and holy is his name.

And his mercy is on those who fear

him

from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his

arm,

he has scattered the proud in the

imagination of their hearts,

he has put down the mighty from

their thrones,

and exalted those of low degree;

he has filled the hungry with good

things,

and the rich he has sent empty

away.

He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

as he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his posterity

for ever.

* * *