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Magnificat

also known as The Canticle of Mary, The Song of Mary, My soul magnifies the Lord

Et ait Maria: 'Magnificat anima mea Dominum.'

And Mary said: 'My soul magnifies the Lord.'

Et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo,

And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,

quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes,

for he has looked upon the humility of his handmaid; for behold, from this day all generations will call me blessed,

quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen eius,

for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name,

et misericordia eius in progenies et progenies timentibus eum,

and his mercy is from generation to generation, on those who fear him,

fecit potentiam in brachio suo dispersit superbos mente cordis sui,

he has shown might with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart,

deposuit potentes de sede et exaltavit humiles,

he has put down the mighty from their seat, and has exalted the humble,

esurientes implevit bonis et divites dimisit inanes,

he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty,

suscepit Israhel puerum suum memorari misericordiae,

he has taken up Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy,

sicut locutus est ad patres nostros Abraham et semini eius in saecula.

as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.

About the Magnificat

The Magnificat is the canticle the Blessed Virgin Mary sang when she visited her cousin Elizabeth, recorded in the Gospel of St. Luke (1:46–55). In it Our Lady magnifies the Lord for the great things He has done in her, and proclaims the mercy of God who lifts up the lowly and casts down the proud. The Church sings it every evening at Vespers, making Mary's thanksgiving her own at the close of each day.

When prayed: Sung every evening at Vespers (Evening Prayer) in the Liturgy of the Hours, the Gospel canticle that crowns the Church's daily prayer.

Line-by-line translation

The Latin text of the Magnificat alongside its English translation, line by line.

Latin English
Et ait Maria: 'Magnificat anima mea Dominum.' And Mary said: 'My soul magnifies the Lord.'
Et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes, for he has looked upon the humility of his handmaid; for behold, from this day all generations will call me blessed,
quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen eius, for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name,
et misericordia eius in progenies et progenies timentibus eum, and his mercy is from generation to generation, on those who fear him,
fecit potentiam in brachio suo dispersit superbos mente cordis sui, he has shown might with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart,
deposuit potentes de sede et exaltavit humiles, he has put down the mighty from their seat, and has exalted the humble,
esurientes implevit bonis et divites dimisit inanes, he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty,
suscepit Israhel puerum suum memorari misericordiae, he has taken up Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy,
sicut locutus est ad patres nostros Abraham et semini eius in saecula. as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.

Vocabulary

Word-by-word definitions and example uses. Tap any word to learn its meaning, then return to the prayer with new ears.

et

Definition: and

Agricola et nauta laborant. (The farmer and sailor work.)

ait

Definition: he/she says or said

Ait Marcus, 'Salve!' (Marcus says, 'Hello!')

Maria

Definition: Mary

Maria in horto est. (Mary is in the garden.)

magnificat

Definition: magnifies

Laus magnificate nomen eius. (Praise magnifies its name.)

anima

Definition: soul

Anima virtutem amat. (The soul loves virtue.)

mea

Definition: my

Pater meus est in via. (My father is on the road.)

Dominum

Definition: the Lord

Dominum laudamus. (We praise the Lord.)

exultavit

Definition: rejoiced

Cor nostrum exultavit. (Our heart rejoiced.)

spiritus

Definition: spirit

Spiritus altus est. (The spirit is high.)

meus

Definition: my

Liber meus est novus. (My book is new.)

in

Definition: in, on

Marcus in urbe habitat. (Marcus lives in the city.)

Deo

Definition: God

Gloria Deo. (Glory to God.)

salutari

Definition: savior

Iesus est salutaris. (Jesus is the savior.)

meo

Definition: my

Cane meo confido. (I trust my dog.)

quia

Definition: because

Laetus sum quia venis. (I am happy because you come.)

respexit

Definition: looked upon

Deus nos respexit. (God looked upon us.)

humilitatem

Definition: humility

Humilitatem colamus. (We cherish humility.)

ancillae

Definition: handmaid

Ancilla aquam portat. (The handmaid carries water.)

suae

Definition: her, his

Filius suus est fortis. (His son is strong.)

ecce

Definition: behold

Ecce vir venit! (Behold, a man comes!)

enim

Definition: for

Non timeo, enim Deus mecum est. (I am not afraid, for God is with me.)

ex

Definition: from, out of

Ex urbe venio. (I come from the city.)

hoc

Definition: this

Hoc est donum meum. (This is my gift.)

beatam

Definition: blessed

Maria est beata. (Mary is blessed.)

me

Definition: me

Vide me! (See me!)

dicent

Definition: they will say

Omnes dicent veritatem. (All will say the truth.)

omnes

Definition: all

Omnes discipuli adsunt. (All students are present.)

generationes

Definition: generations

Generationes futuras ambulamus. (We walk for future generations.)

fecit

Definition: made

Deus mundum fecit. (God made the world.)

mihi

Definition: to me

Da mihi librum. (Give the book to me.)

magna

Definition: great things

Magna sunt opera tua. (Great are your works.)

qui

Definition: who

Qui venit? (Who is coming?)

potens

Definition: mighty

Potens rex est. (The king is mighty.)

est

Definition: is

Mundus est pulcher. (The world is beautiful.)

et

Definition: and

Terra et caelum sunt magna. (The earth and sky are great.)

sanctum

Definition: holy

Templum est sanctum. (The temple is holy.)

nomen

Definition: name

Nomen eius est Iulius. (His name is Julius.)

eius

Definition: his, her, its

Domus eius magna est. (Her house is large.)

misericordia

Definition: mercy

Misericordia tua sempiterna est. (Your mercy is everlasting.)

in

Definition: in

In loco isto oravi. (I prayed in this place.)

progenies

Definition: generations

Progenies longa est. (The lineage is long.)

timentibus

Definition: to those who fear

Benedictio timentibus datur. (A blessing is given to those who fear.)

eum

Definition: him

Video eum. (I see him.)

fecit

Definition: made

Fecit proelium difficile. (He made the battle difficult.)

potentiam

Definition: power

Potentiam verborum intellegit. (He understands the power of words.)

brachio

Definition: arm

Brachio fortis est. (He is strong in arm.)

suo

Definition: his/her

Agricola suo arat. (The farmer plows his field.)

dispersit

Definition: scattered

Ventos dispersit. (He scattered the winds.)

superbos

Definition: the proud

Superbos admonuit. (He admonished the proud.)

mente

Definition: mind

Mente clara est. (He/She has a clear mind.)

cordis

Definition: of heart

Cordis eius plenus est. (His heart is full.)

sui

Definition: his/her own

Amor sui est naturalis. (Love of oneself is natural.)

deposuit

Definition: cast down

Hostem deposuit. (He cast down the enemy.)

potentes

Definition: the powerful

Potentes regnant. (The powerful rule.)

de

Definition: from, down from

Descendit de monte. (He came down from the mountain.)

sede

Definition: throne

Sede regis vacua est. (The king's throne is empty.)

exaltavit

Definition: raised

Humilitas exaltavit eum. (Humility raised him.)

humiles

Definition: the humble

Humiles laudentur. (Let the humble be praised.)

esurientes

Definition: the hungry

Esurientes cibum petunt. (The hungry seek food.)

implevit

Definition: filled

Pater domum implevit. (The father filled the house.)

bonis

Definition: with good things

Domus bonis repleta est. (The house is filled with good things.)

divites

Definition: the rich

Divites opes suas numerant. (The rich count their wealth.)

dimisit

Definition: sent away

Servum dimisit. (He sent the servant away.)

inanes

Definition: empty

Porta inanes est. (The gate is empty.)

suscepit

Definition: he took up

Suscepit opus difficile. (He took up a difficult task.)

Israhel

Definition: Israel

Israhel fortis est. (Israel is strong.)

puerum

Definition: child

Puerum amat pater. (The father loves the child.)

suum

Definition: his

Suus canis latrat. (His dog barks.)

memorari

Definition: to remember

Memorare promissionem. (Remember the promise.)

misericordiae

Definition: of mercy

Misericordiae tuae non obliviscitur. (He does not forget your mercy.)

sicut

Definition: as, just as

Sicut dico, facite. (As I say, do.)

locutus

Definition: spoken

Magister est locutus. (The teacher has spoken.)

est

Definition: is

Aqua clara est. (The water is clear.)

ad

Definition: to

Venit ad urbem. (He came to the city.)

patres

Definition: fathers

Patres in foro conveniunt. (The fathers meet in the forum.)

nostros

Definition: our

Amici nostri laudantur. (Our friends are praised.)

Abraham

Definition: Abraham

Abraham fidem habet. (Abraham has faith.)

et

Definition: and

Silvae et flumina pulchra sunt. (The forests and rivers are beautiful.)

semini

Definition: to the seed

Semini eius benedictio data est. (A blessing was given to his seed.)

eius

Definition: his, her, its

Gloria eius magnifica est. (His glory is magnificent.)

in

Definition: in

In mundo magno sumus. (We are in a great world.)

saecula

Definition: ages

In saecula saeculorum. (Forever and ever.)

About the Magnificat

What is the Magnificat?

The Magnificat is the song of praise the Virgin Mary sang at the Visitation, when she greeted her cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1:46–55). Named for its first Latin word — Magnificat, 'magnifies' — it is Our Lady's great hymn of thanksgiving, and the Church has prayed it at Evening Prayer since the earliest centuries.

Where does the Magnificat come from?

It is taken word-for-word from the Gospel according to St. Luke (1:46–55). When Mary, newly carrying the Christ-child, visited Elizabeth, who was carrying John the Baptist, Elizabeth greeted her as 'the mother of my Lord,' and Mary answered with this canticle — weaving together the praises of the Old Testament, especially the song of Hannah (1 Samuel 2).

When is the Magnificat prayed?

The Magnificat is the Gospel canticle of Vespers, sung every evening in the Liturgy of the Hours. As the high point of Evening Prayer, it is traditionally accompanied by the incensing of the altar. Many of the faithful also pray it in thanksgiving after Holy Communion.

What does 'Magnificat anima mea Dominum' mean?

It means 'My soul magnifies the Lord' — or 'glorifies,' 'proclaims the greatness of' the Lord. These are the opening words of Mary's canticle. To 'magnify' God is not to make Him greater — He cannot be increased — but to make His greatness known, to praise and exalt Him with one's whole being, as Our Lady does here.

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