And Mary said…
Published Dec 22, 2025 12:05 am
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Updated Dec 21, 2025 04:28 pm
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Mary’s song (canticle) of praise is traditionally called the Magnificat, after St. Jerome’s Latin translation which begins: Magnificat anima mea Dominum. It is perhaps the best known and loved of the four canticles in Luke’s infancy narratives.
Biblical narratives of God’s powerful deeds for his people are often accompanied by canticles. The crossing of the Red Sea is celebrated by Moses and the Israelites with a song, accompanied by dancing of Miriam and the women (Ex 15:1-21). Israel’s victory over the Canaanite king Jabin was sung by Deborah and Barak (Jgs 5:1-31) and Judith sang of Israel’s victory over Holofernes and the Assyrian army (Jdt 16:2-17).
The Magnificat echoes Old Testament traditions in which men and women sang praise to God for his mighty deeds in behalf of his people Israel. In style and in thematic parallels, it is similar to the Song of Hannah in 1 Sm 2:1- 10. Both Mary and Hannah are called “handmaids of the Lord” and both acknowledge that God’s purpose will be achieved through the birth of their respective children.
Mary’s song reflects the sentiments of the anawim—“poor and the lowly”—who recognize that in Jesus, God has raised them up and saved them according to his promise. In Jesus, God has his grandest act of salvation and so it is but proper that this be celebrated by his most favored creature, Mary of Nazareth.
First Reading • 1 Sm 1:24-28
In those days, Hannah brought Samuel with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and presented him at the temple of the Lord in Shiloh. After the boy’s father had sacrificed the young bull, Hannah, his mother, approached Eli and said: “Pardon, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the Lord.” She left Samuel there.
Responsorial Psalm • 1 Sm 2
“My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.”
Gospel • Lk 1:46-56
Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for he has looked upon 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. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.”
Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.