Thursday of the Fourth Week of Advent

Today's Mass Readings

Today’s Gospel selection gives us the very familiar “Magnificat” of Mary. Mary is still visiting her cousin Elizabeth. Upon greeting one another, Mary breaks out in song. “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”

Over the centuries, Christians have sung this song with Mary. For us Catholics, it is sung as the climax of Vespers, the Church’s official Evening Prayer. It is almost as sacred as “The Lord’s Prayer.” But we might wonder. How did it come about? It is found only in the Gospel according to St. Luke. Did he create it? Did Mary teach it to St. Luke? Did she teach it to the early Christians? Did she pray it every day of her life?

Pope Benedict XVI asked questions like this in his trilogy, Jesus of Nazareth. In responding, the Pope refers to family traditions among the early Christians. “Luke indicates from time to time that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is herself one of his sources, especially when he says in 2:51 that ‘his mother kept all these things in her heart’ (cf. also 2:19).” (p. 16 in the volume, “The Infancy Narratives”).

Recall that Jesus had entrusted his Mother to the Beloved Disciple, according to the evangelist John (John 19:26-27). Recall that Luke refers to Mary later in his version of the Gospel. Recall that he also pointedly records that Mary was with the apostles in the Upper Room (Acts 1:14) before the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost Sunday.

We may never know how it all came about. But how blessed we are to have this beautiful prayer.

Notice how Mary in her Magnificat directs our attention in two different ways. First, she praises God, the vertical direction. Mary’s attention is focused clearly on God. She proclaims the greatness of the Lord; she rejoices in God who is her savior.

The second direction is horizontal. All generations will call Mary blessed. Her role is part of God’s great plan. God has done this to benefit all people.

What has God done? WOW! Notice how in her prayer Mary lists all the things that God has done for the lowly and the humble, the “little ones” favored by God. God has shown the strength of his arm … has scattered the proud … cast down the mighty … lifted up the lowly … filled the hungry with good things … and on and on.

God “has mercy on those who fear him in every generation” (Luke 1:50). How blessed are we!

Reflection by Archbishop Jerome Hanus, OSB