Magnificat anima mea Dominum
Magnificat
mag-NIF-ih-kaht
Mary's song of praise at the Visitation, named from its first Latin word; sung every evening in the Church's Evening Prayer.
My soul magnifies the Lord
When Mary greets Elizabeth, she breaks into a song: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.” The Church calls it the Magnificat from its opening word in Latin and has sung it at Vespers every day for well over a thousand years. Woven from Old Testament phrases, especially Hannah's song, it praises a God who lifts up the lowly and fills the hungry. The Catechism calls it the song both of the Mother of God and of the Church.
Sources checked 29 September 2026