My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.
ECUMENICAL 1ST CENTURY AD
The Magnificat
Also known as Mary's Song · The Song of Mary · Canticle of Mary
Other forms
Traditional Latin (opening)
Magnificat anima mea Dominum,
et exsultavit spiritus meus
in Deo salutari meo.
Qvia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae:
ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.
About this prayer
The Magnificat is Mary's song of praise recorded in Luke's Gospel (1:46-55), spoken when she visited her cousin Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist. The name comes from the Latin opening word, "Magnificat" ("magnifies"), from the first line: "My soul magnifies the Lord." The song draws heavily on the Old Testament, particularly the song of Hannah in 1 Samuel 2:1-10, and on the Psalms, reflecting Mary's deep familiarity with Jewish scripture. It divides naturally into two parts: the first is personal, praising God for what he has done for Mary; the second is broader, praising God for his faithfulness to Israel and his reversal of the world's power structures, lifting the lowly and sending the rich away empty. The Magnificat is one of the oldest Christian hymns.
When it's said
In Catholic and Anglican practice, the Magnificat is the fixed canticle of Evening Prayer (Vespers). In the Catholic Liturgy of the Hours it is sung or said every evening without exception, making it one of the most frequently recited scriptural texts in Christian liturgy. In Anglican Evening Prayer it follows the first lesson. In Orthodox Matins, Mary's song is incorporated into the service at the ninth ode of the canon. The Magnificat has been set to music by composers including Johann Sebastian Bach, Giovanni Palestrina, and Claudio Monteverdi.
Notes on the text
Verse 46 in a small number of early manuscripts reads "Elizabeth" rather than "Mary" as the speaker of the song. Most scholars and all major traditions attribute the song to Mary. The text here follows the standard form used in Christian liturgy, drawn from Luke 1:46-55.
Common questions
What is the Magnificat?
The Magnificat is the song of Mary in Luke 1:46-55, sung in response to her cousin Elizabeth's greeting at the Visitation. It begins 'My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour,' which is where it takes its Latin name 'Magnificat anima mea Dominum.' It is one of the three Gospel canticles sung in the daily Christian office, alongside the Benedictus and the Nunc Dimittis.
When is the Magnificat sung?
In the Anglican and Catholic Daily Office it is sung at Evening Prayer, every day of the year. In the Eastern Orthodox tradition it is sung at Matins. It is also a central canticle of the Advent and Christmas seasons because it speaks of the Incarnation. The Magnificat has been set to music more often than almost any other biblical text, with settings by Bach, Vivaldi, Pärt, Tavener, and hundreds of other composers.
Why is the Magnificat sometimes called a 'revolutionary' prayer?
Because of its themes of social reversal. Mary sings that God 'hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree' and 'hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.' The Magnificat has been used in Christian thought from the earliest centuries to describe God's preferential love for the poor and powerless. In the 20th century the prayer was associated with liberation theology and various Christian social-justice movements, and was banned from public recitation in several authoritarian regimes.
Source
Luke 1:46-55 (New Testament). English text from the English Standard Version (ESV), 2001. Public domain liturgical form also available from the Book of Common Prayer, 1662.
Last reviewed: May 2026 against primary source.