The Magnificat and the Word of God, Part 1

    As you might remember, I’ve been slowly going through Pope Benedict XVI’s post-synodal apostolic exhortation, Verbum Domini. He ended the first section of the letter by using Mary as an example of encountering the word of God. “We need to look to her … in whom the interplay between the word of God and faith was brought to perfection, (VD, 27). We learn from her obedience to the word of God how to be “completely attuned to that word,” (VD, 27). In her Magnificat she shows us her familiarity with the word of God. 

    I will share with you the wonderfully poetic reflection the Holy Father makes in this regard, and then I’ll help, over the coming articles, to break down all that Mary is referencing in her Magnificat in Luke chapter 2. “The Magnificat—a portrait, so to speak, of her soul— is entirely woven from the threads of holy Scripture, threads drawn from the word of God. Here we see how completely at home Mary is with the word of God, with ease she moves in and out of it. She speaks and thinks with the word of God; the word of God becomes her word, and her word issues from the word of God. Here we see how her thoughts are attuned to the thoughts of God, how her will is one with the will of God. Since Mary is completely imbued with the word of God, she is able to become the Mother of the Word Incarnate.” 1

    One of the things we respect and even at times envy of our Baptist brothers and sisters is their familiarity with Scriptures. It springs from the head so quickly and with such ease. What Pope Benedict was saying is that Mary has the same familiarity with the word of God and more. She knew the words but she also knew personally the one who inspired them. Her famoous prayer at Elizabeth’s house, which we call the Magnificat, shows this. 

    Here is the Magnificat in its entirety; next time I’ll begin to break down its Scriptural roots. 

    My soul magnifies the Lord,

    and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 

    for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.

    For behold, henceforth, all generations will call me blessed; 

    for he who is mighty, has done great things for me, 

    and holy is his name.

    And his mercy on those who fear him is from generation to generation.

    He has shown strength with his arm,

    he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,

    he has filled the hungry with good things,

    and the rich he has sent away empty.

    He has helped his servant Israel,

    in remembrance of his mercy,

    as he spoke to our fathers,

    to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.
 

       1. Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, 41.