Tag: Magnificat

Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

From the responsorial psalm: “God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation. Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 1:39-56)

And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor 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.”

In praying the Magnificat, Mary reveals profound theological and spiritual truths. Mary willingly submits to God’s will in response to his faithfulness and mercy and speaks of God’s preferential love for the poor. As a model of discipleship, Mary shows her deep understanding of God’s redemptive plan and her willingness to participate in it beside Jesus at every step and with complete trust in God’s mercy. As Saint Bede said, reflecting on the Magnificat: “When a man devotes all his thoughts to the praise and service of the Lord, he proclaims God’s greatness. His observance of God’s commands, moreover, shows that he has God’s power and greatness always at heart. His spirit rejoices in God his savior and delights in the mere recollection of his creator who gives him hope for eternal salvation.”

God, help me understand your greatness and mercy as Mary praises it in the Magnificat. As Elizabeth testifies to Mary’s faith in you, help me also trust in your promises. “Blessed are you who believed,” Elizabeth said, “that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” As Mother of the Redeemer and more than any other disciple, Mary suffered with Jesus in his passion and death and rejoiced in his victory over sin and death in the resurrection. Lord, among all the disciples and saints, who but Mary is all-holy and full of grace, leading us to Jesus? Help me trust in you, Lord, as we ask for Mary’s constant intercession: “Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | 8.15.23

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (LK 1:39-56)

And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor 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.”

In her response to Elizabeth, Mary gives personal witness to the great things God has done for her. She identifies herself as “his lowly servant” and then goes on to proclaim the good God has done for those who fear him, for those who are lowly in the eyes of the world, and for those who are hungry in body and spirit for his goodness. In her Magnificat, Mary confirms the strength of God’s arm and his promise of mercy.

God, help me call to mind today all that you do for me. Holy is your name. Let me take courage in your promise of mercy, even to the point of your Son’s death and resurrection, which destroyed death and brought all who believe and follow him the hope of the resurrection. Help me recall today the words of Saint Paul from the second reading: “Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” Mary, Queen of Heaven, sees your Son sitting at your right hand in eternal glory. Animate in me the desire and hope to one day see them face to face in their joyful reunion.

From the Canticle of Zechariah: “Who is this that comes forth like the dawn, as beautiful as the moon, as resplendent as the sun?” Mary, Queen of Heaven, pray for us! Show us the way to your Son!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent

But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.”

Today’s Gospel reading from Luke follows yesterday’s reading and tells very similar stories. While Zechariah questioned Gabriel and is made speechless until John’s birth, Mary says, “May it be done to me according to your word.” It is not as if Zechariah was punished for what Gabriel called his lack of belief in the message sent from God; it seems instead that God quieted Zechariah for a time and immersed him in the school of interior life to prepare for the birth of John. Mary simply gave her consent, her fiat, saying, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.” How often in my life, even now during Advent, do I stay behind bars that keep me inside?

When you come to free me, Lord, I cling to bars that confine me as a self-proclaimed master of my own destiny. How do I learn to let go of my own personal glory? Let me learn to take to heart the words of the psalmist: “Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.” Help me understand, Lord, that what seems up is down and what is down, up. As Jesus says, “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Mary said yes; let me learn to do the same.

For the times when I don’t realize I’m saying no to you, Lord, or for the times when I’m afraid to say yes, stay with me. For the times when it’s hard to let you enter, grant me the grace to find a place for you. Power of the Most High, overshadow me today.

From the O Antiphon for today: O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

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