Chrism

When our Mother Mary visited Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist, John leaped in his mother’s womb because he was in the presence of God. Elizabeth tells Mary that the baby leaped in her womb, and she says “ Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! “But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:42-43).

In response, our Mother Mary magnifies the Lord. What does it mean to magnify the Lord, and how can we magnify the Lord daily? It means that Mary’s soul, her innermost being, exalts the Lord. She makes His name great. She gives Him glory. She praises the Lord and worships Him.

Mary was so moved by her Elizabeth’s words, that she offered up her own prayer of praise, saying, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on, all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” By saying this, Mary recognizes that she has been greatly blessed by God, and that God uses the weak of this earth for his divine plan, as she recognizes she is merely a “lowly servant.”

Then she continued her prayer of praise for all the things her son would do for the world, saying, “The Lord’s mercy is for those who fear him. He separates the proud with their selfish thoughts. He brings down the powerful leaders and lifts up the lowly, filling the hungry with good things and sending the rich away empty.” She knows that God keeps his promises, and that we can always rely on Him.

Finally, speaking of God’s people, she proclaimed, “The Lord has helped Israel, remembering his mercy according to the promise he made to Abraham and our ancestors and their descendants forever. Mary recognizes how faithful God was towards Israel.

Mary shows us how to respond to good news, especially the good news of our salvation. She sets a great example of how to be thankful. She teaches us how to thank God for His abundant grace.

1. She magnifies His name, blessing Him and granting Him worship.

2. She explains how He saves us, by showing grace to the poor and lowly.

3. She finishes her prayer by talking about God’s covenant, His faithfulness through all generations, and how God keeps His promise, like he has done with Israel and Abraham.