Mary, Woman of the Magnificat
Mary’s song of praise in Luke’s Gospel teaches us how to pray with joy, humility and hope.
When Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, she bursts into a song of praise that the Church has sung every evening for centuries: the Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55). It is the longest prayer of Mary recorded in the Gospels, and it shows us her heart.
A song that begins with God
Mary does not begin with herself. Her first words are about God: her soul proclaims his greatness and her spirit rejoices in him. Before asking for anything, she praises. This is a simple lesson for our own prayer: begin with gratitude.
A song for the lowly
Mary sings of a God who lifts up the humble and fills the hungry with good things, and who remembers his promises. She calls herself his lowly servant. Like Francis of Assisi centuries later, she finds her greatness in littleness.
Praying the Magnificat at home
- Read Luke 1:46–55 slowly as a family once a week.
- Let each person name one thing God has done for them.
- End with a Hail Mary for someone who is poor or forgotten.
For reflection
- What “great things” has God done for me this year?
- Whom can I lift up this week?