Magnificat

5/31/2016

Step #1: Lectio / Read

Luke 1:39-56

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”

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.

He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he 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 has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.”

Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.

Step #2: Meditatio / Meditate

Today is the last day of the month of May, where we remember and in a special way pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and in honor of her today we celebrate the Feast of the Visitation. The Visitation, which we just read, is where Mary goes "in haste" to the hill country to visit her cousin, Elizabeth.

On a great day like today, it is only fitting to take some special time to reflect on Mary.

Elizabeth, realizing even at a difference that there is something special with Mary, knows that Jesus is with her and runs out to greet her. John, in the womb of his mother, notices the presence of Jesus as well, and we hear that he actually leaps in the womb of his mother. Elizabeth is truly convinced then, and lets out her praise and her prayer of thanksgiving that Mary is with her.

After this, we hear Mary say some of the most beautiful words ever spoken in Scripture. This prayer that she prays, called the Magnificat, which means "[my soul] magnifies", is one of the most beautiful prayers even prayed and continued to be said each day in the Liturgy of the Hours.

At the heart of Mary's prayer is an insight into who she truly is: she is the one who magnifies, who brings into clearer vision, who God is. Right from the beginning, when Elizabeth's attention is on Mary, she points right to the "glory of God" and the "greatness of" her Savior, who of course is her Son. Mary gets a whole month devoted to her, and feast days throughout the whole year, not because of her own greatness but because she ceaselessly magnifies the Lord and points of all those who encounter her to her Son, our Savior.

If you don't regularly have a chance to pray to Mary, begin that today. Take some time today to pray the rosary - the joyful mysteries, if you want, contain today's feast in them - and reflect on Mary's constant and fervent desire to magnify the Lord and point you to Him. Are you letting her help you there? Are you developing a relationship with your Mother, who knows you intimately and knows her Son, our Lord, better than anyone, and letting her help your spiritual life?

The other big reason we look to Mary, other than her role in leading us to her Son, is her witness of the Christian life. When she says that she magnifies the Lord, she gives us insight into who she is, and also into who we should be. As you pray for Mary's help and intercession today, ask her to help you look more like her, always pointing everyone you meet to Jesus and to His Glory.

Our Lady, first among the saints, pray for us!

Step #3: Oratio / Pray

“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."

How often do you ask for the intercession and help of Mary? What are some steps you can take to grow your devotion to her?

Do you make sure to find ways to point those around you to Jesus?

What about the way that Mary lived and prayed particularly inspires you?

Step #4: Contemplatio / contemplate

Blessed Mother, lead me to your Son.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.

He comes to the aid of His servants.

For the REst Of Your DAy...

Carve out time to pray with the Blessed Mother. Say a Hail Mary when you get stressed, and make time later today to say a Rosary.

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Today's prayer was prepared by Jason Theobald.

CARPE VERBUM