STAY INFORMED
Must Watch Videos
Does Mary "magnify" or just "praise" the Lord?
Ghirlandaio’s Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth
A friend of mine was sharing the Catholic Faith with a family member and, as usual, the topic of Mary came up. He decided that it might be helpful to read the the Virgin Mary’s famous “canticle” in Luke 1:46-55.
“And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is his name. And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him. He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy. As he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his seed for ever.” (Luke 1:46–55, D-R)
This biblical passage of Mary reveals how the Holy Spirit inspired Mary to sing an infallible and God-inspired hymn of praise to the Lord. Meanwhile, the Lord Jesus Christ is quietly residing within her immaculate womb.
This canticle is called the “Magnificat” because in Latin, it opens with the verb magnificat which means “magnifies.”
My friend didn’t have a Bible with him, so he borrowed a Protestant Bible and was disappointed to read in it the opening line as “My soul praises the Lord.”
Huh? Praises the Lord? What happened to “magnified the Lord”? Why does the Protestant translation read that Mary’s soul “praises the Lord” and not “magnifies the Lord”? Who’s right? Catholics or Protestants?
To “magnify” the Lord is saying more than to “praise” the Lord. We Catholics truly believe that Mary is like a living magnifying glass that both enlarges our praise to God and magnifies His mercy and grace as it comes to us. She doesn’t change the divine Light, but she allows us to perceive different. Those who have weak eyes (we sinners), need a magnifying glass to read the love of God.
Well the Greek confirms the Catholic translation over the Protestant (mis)translation. In Greek, we read “Μεγαλύνει ἡ ψυχή μου.” The word μεγαλύνει or megalunei means “enlarge” not “praise.” You don’t have to be a Greek scholar to see that megalunei relates to “mega” and everyone knows what that means. Mary is saying that he soul makes God appear bigger to us. We earthly see God better through Mary. Her immaculate soul is the telescope by which we can see Christ.
So Mary’s love for God truly “magnifies the Lord.”
Godspeed,
Taylor
PS: In anticipation of a foreseen objection: Yes, I know that the Magnificat in the Liturgy of the Hours in English reads: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.” My answer: This is also a poor translation. The LOTH translation follows neither the Greek {megalunei} nor the Latin {magnificat}. Hopefully, now that the English translation of the Holy Mass is being updated, they will next turn their sights to the Liturgy of Hours in English – which frequently contains “fluffy” translations.
Dive Deeper
GET CONFIDENT IN YOUR FAITH
Explore the fascinating world of Catholic teachings with Dr. Marshall. Together you’ll unpack the brilliant answers the Church gives to tough questions about the Faith. The best part: you go at your own pace. Start this exciting journey today.