I. New Testament

The Magnificat is Mary's song of praise (Luke 1:46–55), which takes its name from the first word of the Latin translation (magnificat, “she praises”) and consists of two strophes: vv. 47–50 report, in the first person, God's acting on Mary; vv. 51–55 are more general and praise God's mighty deeds on Israel's behalf. In terms of genre, it is an individual song of praise or a hymn that stands in the tradition of the Old Testament Psalms and …