The Magnificat

After the angel Gabriel appeared to the virgin Mary, telling her of God’s favor that she would conceive, bear a son, and name him Jesus, she traveled to visit her elderly relatives, Zechariah and Elizabeth, who Mary learned was also with child. Upon Mary’s arrival, Elizabeth’s son, John, six months in her womb jumped for joy, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, blessing the mother of her Lord. And in that moment, following Elizabeth’s exhortation and her son’s jubilation, Mary breaks out in song, a Spirit-filled, Scripture-saturated song of praise. Traditionally called the Magnificat,…