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Visitation: Mary's Soul
Proclaims God's Greatness
This excerpt from a homily by Saint Bede the Venerable (Lib 1,4:CCL 122, 25-26, 30) on the
Visitation of St. Elizabeth by the Blessed Virgin Mary is used in the Roman Liturgy's Office
of Readings for the Feast of the Visitation. Written in the early 8th century, it explains why
the Magnificat, Mary's prayer on the occasion of the Visitation, is used daily in the liturgy
of the hours for evening prayer.
My soul glorifies the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.
He looks on his servant in her lowliness;
Henceforth all ages will call me blessed.
My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my saviour.
With these words Mary first acknowledges the special gifts she has been given. Then she recalls God’s universal favours, bestowed unceasingly on the human race.
When a man devotes all his thoughts to the praise and service of the Lord, he proclaims God’s greatness. His observance of God’s commands, moreover, shows that he has God’s power and greatness always at heart. His spirit rejoices in God his saviour and delights in the mere recollection of his creator who gives him hope for eternal salvation.
The Almighty works marvels for me
Holy is his name.
His mercy is from age to age
on those who fear him.
The Almighty works marvels for me, Holy is his name. Mary attributes nothing to her own merits. She refers all her greatness to the gift of the one whose essence is power and whose nature is greatness, for he fills with greatness and strength the small and the weak who believe in him.
He puts forth his arm in strength
and scatters the proud-hearted.
He casts the mighty from their thrones
and raises the lowly.
These words are often for all God’s creations, but especially for the Mother of God. She alone was chosen, and she burned with spiritual love for the son she so joyously conceived. Above all other saints, she alone could truly rejoice in Jesus, her saviour, for she knew that he who was the source of eternal salvation would be born in time in her body, in one person both her own son and her Lord.
He fills the starving with good thing
sends the rich away empty.
She did well to add: and holy is his name, to warn those who heard, and indeed all who would receive his words, that they must believe and call upon his name. For they too could share in everlasting holiness and true salvation according to the words of the prophet: and it will come to pass, that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. This is the name she spoke of earlier: and my spirit rejoices in God my saviour.
He protects Israel his servant,
remembering his mercy,
the mercy promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and his sons for ever.
Therefore it is an excellent and fruitful custom of holy Church that we should
sing Mary’s hymn at the time of evening prayer. By meditating upon the
incarnation, our devotion is kindled, and by remembering the example of God’s
Mother, we are encouraged to lead a life of virtue. Such virtues are best
achieved in the evening. We are weary after the day’s work and worn out by our
distractions. The time for rest is near, and our minds are ready for
contemplation.