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Magnificat

The Magnificat, also known as the Song of Mary, is a canticle from the New Testament, attributed to Mary and recorded in Luke 1:46–55. It is Mary’s praise to God following the Annunciation and is one of the oldest Marian hymns in Christian tradition. The text has played a central role in Western liturgy and devotional life for centuries.

Text and themes: The Magnificat begins with Mary declaring that her soul glorifies the Lord and that

Liturgical use: In Western Christian worship, the Magnificat is used as a canticle in the daily Liturgy

Musical and cultural significance: The Magnificat has inspired an extensive body of music. Notable settings include

God
has
regarded
her
humble
state.
It
extols
divine
mercy,
justice,
and
faithfulness,
and
it
speaks
of
God’sEPROM
reversal
of
social
fortunes,
the
salvation
promised
to
Israel,
and
the
fulfillment
of
God's
promises
to
Abraham.
Common
themes
include
humility,
mercy
toward
the
lowly,
and
the
transformation
of
history
through
God’s
intervention.
of
the
Hours
(Lauds
and
Vespers)
and
is
often
recited
or
sung
during
morning
and
evening
prayer.
It
is
associated
with
Advent
in
particular
but
is
also
present
in
various
other
liturgical
contexts
across
Catholic,
Anglican,
and
some
Protestant
traditions.
Baroque
choral
works
by
Johann
Sebastian
Bach
and
Antonio
Vivaldi,
as
well
as
later
compositions
by
composers
such
as
John
Rutter
and
Arvo
Pärt.
Beyond
music,
the
text
has
influenced
art,
literature,
and
devotional
practices,
reinforcing
its
status
as
a
foundational
Christian
hymn
of
praise.