The Magnificat

#Mary #prayer
The Magnificat, taken from Luke's Gospel (1:46-55), is the Blessed Virgin Mary's hymn of praise to the Lord. It is also known as the Canticle of Mary in the Liturgy of the Hours, a special collection of scripture readings, psalms, and hymns that constitute what is known as the prayer of the church. 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.