The Magnificent Magnificat!

Good Evening Dearly Beloved Ones!

Happy Take Care Tuesday! It's really Tuesday and we are almost to the close of day. I hope everyone took time to take care of yourselves on this double Monday and that you are continuing to breathe and relax. We won't be any good to others if we don't start with ourselves first. As I was looking at the calendar when I was working on our parish newsletter today it had occurred to me that it is the Feast of the Visitation! The Feast of the Visitation for those of you who may not be familiar is the day set aside for us to remember and celebrate The Blessed Virgin Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth. This is the time when we hear the marvelous words of the Magnificat which is said often at the daily office in monasteries, churches, homes, and many other places. The Magnificat may be prayed at two levels the solemn celebratory one or as in a prayer for liberation and exodus from oppression at the hands of oppressors. Tonight as we spend time in prayer and meditation I would like us to take a look at the lessons for the Visitation and pray the words of the Magnificat as a reminder that we are called to pray for freedom for all people and that we must not be the oppressors oppressing our family members who differ from us. 

We will pray these lessons first, then have our candlelight vigil, and have more time for prayer. Let us begin;


Here are the lessons  and Collect for the Feast of the Visitation from the Lectionary Page.

The Collect or Prayer of the Feast of the Visitation;

Father in heaven, by your grace the virgin mother of your incarnate Son was blessed in bearing him, but still more blessed in keeping your word: Grant us who honor the exaltation of her lowliness to follow the example of her devotion to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Samuel 2:1-10

Hannah prayed and said,

“My heart exults in the Lord;
my strength is exalted in my God.

There is no Holy One like the Lord, no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.

Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;

for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.

The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble gird on strength.

Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry are fat with spoil.

The barren has borne seven,
but she who has many children is forlorn.

The Lord kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.

The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low, he also exalts.

He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap,

to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.

For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,
and on them he has set the world.

He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness;
for not by might does one prevail.

The Lord! His adversaries shall be shattered;
the Most High will thunder in heaven.

The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king,
and exalt the power of his anointed.”

Psalm 113

Laudate, pueri

1 Hallelujah!
Give praise, you servants of the Lord; *
praise the Name of the Lord.

2 Let the Name of the Lord be blessed, *
from this time forth for evermore.

3 From the rising of the sun to its going down *
let the Name of the Lord be praised.

4 The Lord is high above all nations, *
and his glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like the Lord our God, who sits enthroned on high *
but stoops to behold the heavens and the earth?

6 He takes up the weak out of the dust *
and lifts up the poor from the ashes.

7 He sets them with the princes, *
with the princes of his people.

8 He makes the woman of a childless house *
to be a joyful mother of children.

Romans 12:9-16b

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.

Luke 1:39-57

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord."'

And Mary said,
"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.
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 powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever."


And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son

Let us continue with our Virtual Candlelight Prayer Vigil.


Holy God we give thanks for the gift of cousins and especially we give thanks for the Blessed Virgin Mary who bore our Savior Jesus Christ and her cousin Elizabeth who was the mother of John the Baptist. May we give thanks for familial bonds that unite us throughout the world this day and as we light our candles may we pray the words of the the Magnificat and add our own prayers and thanksgivings at the end.  

"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.
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 powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

The Light and Love of Christ I hold out to you is my promise that we are family one to another this day and always. The Light of Christ in Me , Recognizes the Light of Christ in you. We lift up these our prayers in Jesus most holy name. Amen.

God, Open Wide ..... As we Pray!

God open wide the hearts of  our family members and sometimes ourselves who have closed hearts, minds, and spirits.

God open wide the arms of our family members  and all of us to be welcoming and loving to all.

God open wide the hearts and minds of all our family members who are leaders of the nations who are at war with their own people. We pray that their minds, hearts, and a willingness to make peace may be fostered and that peace may prevail upon earth.

God open wide the arms of our family members to become gracious, kind, and loving caregivers.

God open wide the hearts of our family members and us that we may seek, serve, and love the least of these.

God open wide our minds so that we may learn from and appreciate the diversity in this your Human Family and as the Family of God.

God open wide our arms so that we may care for the ill, the lost, the lonely, the afraid, and the marginalized.

God open wide our arms and hands that we may comfort and soothe the dying, lovingly  hold those in pre-grieving, embrace with holy compassion those who are in mourning.

God open wide our hands that we may be good  stewards of  your Cathedral of Life.

God open wide our hearts as we pray for__________________

God open wide our hearts as we lift up our thanksgivings for______________

Accept these our prayers in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.

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Good Night Dear Family of Love! I love you! I give thanks to God for you this day and always! 


Leaving my heart gate and heart home open to you with warmth and love,

Sara