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The Blessed Virgin Mary’s Hymn of Praise to the Lord

                        

                        THE MAGNIFICAT 
                     (The Canticle of Mary)

The Magnificat 
is taken from Luke’s Gospel (1:46-55), is the Blessed Virgin Mary’s hymn of praise to the Lord. It is also known as the Canticle of Mary in the Liturgy of the Hours, a special collection of scripture readings, psalms, and hymns that constitute what is known as the prayer of the church. (Priests and other religious are required to pray sections from the Liturgy of the Hours each day.)

Mary proclaims the Lord’s greatness with characteristic humility and grace here.

My soul magnifies the Lord
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;
Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid;
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;
Because He who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is His name;
And His mercy is from generation to generation
on those who fear Him.
He has shown might with His arm,
He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and has exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich He has sent away empty.
He has given help to Israel, his servant, mindful of His mercy
Even as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever.

The Magnificat provides great material for meditation on the Visitation, the second Joyful Mystery of the Rosary, pictured above. When the angel Gabriel informs Mary that she is to be the Mother of God, he also tells her of her relative Elizabeth’s pregnancy with John the Baptist.

Chaplet of Our Lady of Sorrows

The Seven Sorrows Chaplet (also known as the Seven Dolors Chaplet or the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows) consists of seven Hail Marys for each of the seven Sorrows. One Our Father is said before each group of seven Hail Marys. After the seven Hail Marys of each Sorrow this stanza is said: “Holy Mother pierce me through, in my heart each wound renew of my Savior Crucified.” On the three beads, at the end of the chaplet, three Hail Marys are said in honor of the Tears of Our Sorrowful Mother.

While reciting the prayers meditate upon:

THE FIRST SORROW–The Prophecy of Simeon: The prophecy of holy Simeon who told Our Sorrowful Mother of the bitter passion and death of Jesus. Our Father, Seven Hail Marys, “Holy Mother pierce me through, in my heart each wound renew of my Savior Crucified.”

“Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34-35)

THE SECOND SORROW–The Flight into Egypt: Our Sorrowful Mother is forced to flee into Egypt to save her beloved Son from the death of all the innocent children ordered by Herod. Our Father, Seven Hail Marys, “Holy Mother pierce me through, in my heart each wound renew of my Savior Crucified.”

“Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Matthew 2:13-15)

THE THIRD SORROW–The Loss of Jesus in Jerusalem: Our Sorrowful Mother is separated from Jesus for three long days while He is lost in Jerusalem. Our Father, Seven Hail Marys, “Holy Mother pierce me through, in my heart each wound renew of my Savior Crucified.”

“Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the  boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple…” (Luke 2: 41-46)

THE FOURTH SORROW–Jesus Meets His Mother: Our Sorrowful Mother meets Jesus on the road to Calvary and sees Him fall under the cruel weight of the cross. Our Father, Seven Hail Marys, “Holy Mother pierce me through, in my heart each wound renew of my Savior Crucified.”

“Carrying the cross himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, In Hebrew, Golgotha” (John 19:17)

THE FIFTH SORROW–Jesus Dies on the Cross: Our Sorrowful Mother watches Jesus die on the Cross. Our Father, Seven Hail Marys, “Holy Mother pierce me through, in my heart each wound renew of my Savior Crucified.”

“Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala…When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.” (John 19:25, 30)

THE SIXTH SORROW–Mary Receives the Body of Jesus: Our Sorrowful Mother receives the dead body of Jesus in her arms. Our Father, Seven Hail Marys, “Holy Mother pierce me through, in my heart each wound renew of my Savior Crucified.”

“..a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph…went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be handed over.” (Matthew 27:57-58)

THE SEVENTH SORROW–The Burial: Our Sorrowful Mother sees Jesus placed in the sacred tomb. Our Father, Seven Hail Marys, “Holy Mother pierce me through, in my heart each wound renew of my Savior Crucified.”

“They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom.  Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, win which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.” (John 19:40-42)

ENDING PRAYERS:

Three Hail Marys prayed in honor of the Tears of our Sorrowful Mother.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be prayed for the intentions of the Pope, the Holy Father.

                          SHARE AND BE BLESSED

WHEN YOU ARE FEELING DOWN, SAY THIS PRAYER

Assured that the Lord had taken my hand so I will not drown, I often read this prayer, sometimes three times through!

St. Pio of Pietrelcina Prayer After Communion

Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have you present so that I do not forget you. You know how easily I abandon you.
Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak, and I need your strength, so that I may not fall so often.
Stay with me, Lord, for you are my life, and without you, I am without fervor.
Stay with me, Lord, for you are my light, and without you, I am in darkness.
Stay with me, Lord, to show me your will.
Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear your voice and follow you.
Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love you very much, and always be in your company.
Stay with me, Lord, if you wish me to be faithful to you.
Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is, I want it to be a place of consolation for you, a nest of love. Amen   

 Depression is a battle, and for some of us a lifelong cross to bear. In bearing it as best we can while reaching up and out for help, we are led in to a deeper maturity of faith—which like most virtues, is not easily won.