Magnificat is the Latin name of the
canticle[?] of
Mary, the mother of Jesus, which she speaks to
Elisabeth[?] the husband of
Zechariah that she is pregnant with the Saviour
Jesus Christ. It appears in the
Gospel of Luke, I:46-55
Latin:
- Magnificat anima mea Dominum
- Et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo.
- Quia respexit humilitatem ancillæ suæ: ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.
- Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen eius.
- Et misericordia eius a progenie in progenies timentibus eum.
- Fecit potentiam in bracchio suo, dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.
- Deposuit potentes de sede et exaltavit humiles.
- Esurientes implevit bonis et divites dimisit inanes,
- Suscepit Israel puerum suum recordatus misericordiæ suæ,
- Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semini eius in sæcula. (Vulgate)
English:
- My soul doth magnify the Lord,
- And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
- For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
- For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
- And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
- He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
- He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
- He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
- He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
- As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. (KJV)
In Latin or in English, the text has been a favourite of many composers and forms a part of the Roman Catholic Vespers service.
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