The Song of Mary

When the Bible was translated into Latin, “Magnificat” was the first word of the song that the Virgin Mary sang when she was telling her relative Elizabeth about being chosen to be the mother of Jesus. The “Song of Mary” beautifully reflects key themes of God’s grace, mercy, and the reversal of worldly power. Mary begins by glorifying God for choosing her, a humble servant, to bear the Savior, a sign of God’s gracious action toward the lowly. This is a picture of how God works, not through the proud or powerful, but through the humble and weak.

Mary praises God’s faithfulness to his promises, especially the covenant made with Abraham and his descendants. God has an unchanging commitment to his people and to the fulfillment of his promises through Christ.

Martin Luther emphasized that the “Magnificat” is not about Mary’s greatness, but about God’s action through her. It’s a confession of faith in God’s grace alone. Mary trusts God’s Word and rejoices in his mercy, an admirable response to the Gospel.