My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord
The Virgin Mary’s spontaneous hymn of praise when she told her cousin about the angel Gabriel.
The Virgin Mary’s spontaneous hymn of praise when she told her cousin about the angel Gabriel.
When the Virgin Mary told her cousin Elizabeth about the visit she had received from the angel Gabriel, she suddenly burst into this song, a very clever weaving together of Old Testament prophecies. This translation is taken from the English Book of Common Prayer, which first appeared in 1549.
Magnificat Anima Mea.
MY soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me, and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him, through out all generations.
He hath shewed strength with his arm, he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembring his mercy, hath holpen his servant Israel, as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham, and his seed for ever.
Below is is a setting of the Magnificat by Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625), for his Short Service. It is performed by the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, conducted by Stephen Cleobury.
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