My soul proclaims the greatness of 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.

Magníficat ánima mea Dóminum, et exsultávit spíritus meus in Deo salutári meo. Quibus profécto verbis primo dona sibi speciáliter concéssa confitétur, deínde generália Dei benefícia, quibus géneri humáno in ætérnum consúlere non desístit, enúmerat.

  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.

  Eius autem ánima Dóminum magníficat, qui omnes interióris hóminis sui afféctus divínis láudibus ac servítiis máncipat, qui observántia præceptórum Dei semper eius poténtiam maiestátis se cogitáre demónstrat.

  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.

  Quæ cum ómnibus perféctis verba recte convéniant, máxime tamen ea Beátam Dei Genetrícem proférre decébat, quæ, mériti privilégio singuláris, spiritáli ipsíus dilectióne flagrábat, cuius corporáli conceptióne gaudébat.

  Quæ iure in Iesu, id est in salutári suo, speciáli præ céteris sanctis gáudio pótuit exsultáre, quia, quem perpétuum salútis auctórem nóverat, hunc ipsum temporáli ortu de carne sua nascitúrum esse sciébat, quátenus, in una eadémque persóna, veráciter suus et fílius esset et Dóminus.

  For the Almighty has done great things for me, and 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.

  Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen eius. Nil ergo méritis suis tríbuit, quæ totam suam magnitúdinem ad illíus donum refert, qui, essentiáliter potens et magnus exsístens, fidéles suos de parvis atque infírmis fortes fácere consuévit et magnos.

  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.

  Bene autem áddidit: Et sanctum nomen eius, ut admonéret audiéntes, immo omnes, ad quos eius verba pervenírent, instrúeret ad fidem et invocatiónem eius nóminis advoláre, quátenus et ipsi sanctitátis ætérnæ ac salútis veræ possent esse partícipes, iuxta illud prophéticum: Et erit, omnis quicúmque invocáverit nomen Dómini salvus erit. Ipsum est enim nomen, de quo supra ait: Et exsultávit spíritus meus in Deo salutári meo.

  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.

  Itaque et óptimus ac salubérrimus in sancta Ecclésia mos inolévit, ut hymnus ipsíus cotídie cum psalmodía vespertínæ laudis ab ómnibus canátur, quátenus ex hoc ánimos fidélium et frequéntior domínicæ incarnatiónis memória ad afféctum devotiónis accéndat, et recogitáta sǽpius exémpla Genetrícis illíus in virtútum soliditáte confírment. Et hoc opportúne ad vésperas fíeri complácuit, ut vidélicet, fatigáta per diem ac disténta divérsis cogitatiónibus, mens nostra, incumbénte témpore quiétis, ad uniónem se suæ consideratiónis collígeret.