MAGNIFICAT, the title of an ancient liturgical hymn drawn from the Vul. VS of Mary’s psalm of praise (Luke 1:46-55). The Vul. states, “Magnificat anima mea Dominum,” “My soul magnifies the Lord.” The passage is similar to the prayer or song of Hannah (1 Sam 2:1-10), and contains allusions to it. It is one of the three psalms in Heb. poetic style with parallelistic construction in this narrative of the birth of our Lord. In v. 46 which states, Lat. Vul. VS, “Et ait Maria,” “Thus said Mary,” certain Old Lat. MSS read, “Et ait Elisabet,” “Thus said Elizabeth.” They are namely the codices Vercellensis (4th cent.); Veronensis (4th & 5th cent.) and Rehdigerianus (7th cent.) and their reading is supported by a few Lat. patristic citations. Over against this are the mass of early Gr. papyri, uncials and even the Syr. MSS. Westcott and Hort considered this one of their “noteworthy rejected readings.” It was apparently a liturgical gloss later infixed into the text at some point in the early medieval period. The text makes a most fitting ending to the expectations of the OT covenant which looked forward to the consummation of the promised blessing to Abraham in the servant, Messiah of the Lord. The utter humility of the means by which God is pleased to bring this grace to His people is glorified as a sing. instance of His sovereign power. The psalm also initiates the age of the Messianic fulfillment as few texts in Scripture.

The various critical objections to the traditional origin of the piece, that it was the praise uttered by the Virgin Mary, are not worthy of serious discussion. The text in its medieval guise as “The Canticle of the Blessed Virgin” has had wide acceptance in all branches of Christendom. Since the codification of the worship service by Pope Gregory the Great (590-604) and the official acceptance of the rule of St. Benedict (480-543) the Magnificat has been sung at the vesper or evening prayers. However in the reformation and evangelical churches it has been paraphrased and sung as a congregational hymn. Some of the greatest works of Christian art have been produced around the Magnificat themes. Artists, poets and musicians have celebrated its theme of joy at the salvation now graciously offered mankind through the gift of His Messiah.