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| Ghirlandaio: "The Visitation" |
This is far from an exhaustive list; we could spend a very long and fruitful time meditating on the meanings contained in this one brief passage. I do want to mention one more thing, however: the beautiful and powerful prayer that Mary proclaims when she meets Elizabeth, whose opening words can be found at the end of the passage above (I include the entire prayer below). This is, of course, the prayer we know as the Magnificat. Today's Office of Readings contains a passage from the early 8th century English monk St. Bede (more commonly called "The Venerable Bede"), who says:
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.
Twelve centuries later the Magnificat is still part of Evening prayer, and it is still “excellent and fruitful” for us to join in her prayer.
The clip below is a lovely musical version of the Magnificat composed by Claudio Monteverdi.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.
(Lk 1:46-55)
