The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-01-02
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

| SUBJECT! IHE SONG OF MARY ON MEETING
| ELISABETH, COMMONLY KNOWN AS 1.-THE
| MAGNIFICENT"
| The former lesson related to the announce
ment by an Angel to Zacharias of the future
birth of st. John Baptist. The news was too
good and wonderful to be believed by the
| priest. Soon Zacharias left Jerusalem for his
home and the conception of Christ's forerunner
| follows. In about six months the Angel Ga
| brel went to Nazareth and informed the Vir-
| gin Mary OF her prospective motherhood of the
Infant Jesus. She accordingly conceived. At
| once she set out to visit her cousin Elisabeth.
| The meeting was exceedingly impressive.
Mary spoke first by way Of salutaton. Elisa
beth answered joyously, Hospitality, devoutly.
Then follows the Canticle of the Blessed Vir-
gin Mary. 1t is our present study.
| /. Data.
st. Luke records the Song. (See 1 1851
| 1t is the only report of It, No other Gospel
| writer mentions IL. We see how much we owe
| to the Gospel OF St Luke. 1t would have been
grievous loss to the Church had THE Magnif-
cat dropped out from the New Testament.
st. Luke wrote his Gospel probably at Rome
about A. ID. 81.
2. Place q
The Song of Mary originated at Juttah, the
home of Zacharas and Elisabeth Mary went
| from Nazareth to Juttah on visit to Elisa
| beth.
3. Time.
Tho Song of Mary was uttered probably in
Nov, b. c., z. The Angel appeared to Zach
arias in the month of May six months before
going to the Virgin Mary. (Vs. H. 26.) We
may put our lesson at about three months
before the birth of st. John Baptist, and a
little after the conception of the Holy Child
Jesus. We suppose Mary remained at Juttah
TILL the birth of the son of Zacharias. (Y. 56.)
She then returned to Nazareth, staying there
Tor about six months, ut the expiration of
which time she went TO Bethlehem, and the
Savior was born. Christs birth was nearly
2,uO0 years after God spoke to Abraham. (V. 55.)
We may suppose Mary was about 20 years of
age
4. Autkor
We owe 1.-THE Magnificent" to the Virgin
Mary. Elisabeth uttered her exultant words
under the influence of the Holy Ghost ~ Al
Evidently similar impulse gave words to
Aary's tongue. We notice. however the Scrip
tnral tone of her Song. We can hardly call it
strictly original. IL is clear the author was
very familiar with biblical phraseology. We
see strong paralleism between the Song of
Mary and the prophetic utterance of Hannah.
Il SAM, 9: lilo. The student should read that
paragraph critically, comparing it with our
lesson. Read also Sam, u: 500; Ps., 81
Ps., 3l:7.)
BY Z" sale" in V. 46 we are not necessarily to
understand that Mary did not compose tho
words III writing. They secm, however, a ver-
bal outburst of praise. We can easily conceive
the thought that Mary wrote down the words,
thus preserving them. Possibly among other
data, st. Luke had this Song in MS He wrote
A ID. 81. But the Song was uttered b. CT
lhe interval, therefore, between the origin of
the Canticle aud its record in st. Luke's Gospel
was 81 years.
We must suppose the Song was composed at
the very time aud place indicated above. 1t
Is not studied after-thought. IL is not
piece of philosophc patchwork in literature.
1t IS real outburst of pent-up feeling-the
fruit oil the lips. because Christ was TO be the
fruit OF the Heavenly conception. The Holy
Spirit swayed her tongue, and she spoke one
fresh from tuition in SCriptural phraseology.
She reminds one OF Miriam, Hannah, Deborah.
5. Analysis or Outlines.
There is much crowded into little in "The
Magnihcat' We learn more from it as we
look at IL from different standponts. Those
few verses involve almost complete system of
theology. They are a very study as to Gods
attributes, aud fine illustration of the doe.
trine Of Providence. From u literary point
they are gem in word combination. They
teach much rs to practical religion. They are
also the very soul Of subjective piety.
We may notice the paragraph from the fol-
towing outline. as illustrative Of
a. omnipoteuce. VS.. 46, 40, 81. 30.
t2l Grace v. ~.
l3l Mercy. vs.. as. 50-53
Gods (il Omniscience. V. As.
(5l Holiness. V. 40.
l6l Justice. VS.. 81 50.
ID Tfuthfnlness. vs.. 81 IS.
Or we may consider the verses from the |
standpoint of Mary. She praised God in be-
half Of
(1l Herself. VS.. 46- 10
% The world in gener7sss VS.. 5O-53.
l3l The Church. VS.. 81 -
Or tho following; She magnifed God on ac- |
count Of
a. His mercy to herself
(2l His mercy to men in general
(3l Ills mercy in special to the Church |
Or the following: Mary praised God for
Q) What He did TO and for herself
(2) What he had done aud would do /
against the opponents Of tho true /
t3) What He had effected in behalf of /
the Church, aud what no would |
continue TO do in its interest
6. Verses 10 49,
These relate specifically to the Virgin Mary. |
The paragraph which we study to wit. verses |
46-55, is known as The Magnifcat" This |
name comes from the first word with which /
the paragraph begins in the Latin version. and /
which is rendered doth magnify" in our /
English Bibles
To magnify person or thing is to make him |
or 1t large. We magnify God when we cause /
our associates to have more exalted idea of |
him.
We observe the sincerity Of the Blessed Vir-
GIN IN tue fact She not merely uttered the
paragraph with her lips but also from her
very soul
We have reason 10 believe that the Mother
oil our Lords human nature WAS of an obscure
family. She was not noted for wealth nor
rank. There were thousands of women of
high position, of influence, rich, but God over
looked all such aud selected IA young woman
way up in an out-of-tho-way town, aud that
town ono OF unsavory repnte.
Aud hers was not mere Temporary honor |
Mary saw prophetieally that her memory was
10 be dear TO the Church throughout all time |
That Is very defective piety which miniiies a
woman whom God so distinguished; that is a
zeal without knowledge which, believing that
ono branch of Christians exceed it bounds in
their veneration for the Blessed Virgin goes To
another extreme, becoming even disrespeetful
and using hard terms AS to the Mother of !
Christs humanity.
z. Verses 50-53.
We see mercy aud justice in exercise when
we study Gods treatment of humanity. Fear
ing God is the Aolding him in such respect AS
TO be- afraid, out of very regard for his favorable
consideration, To do any act contrary 10 his
will God Is always gracious, merciin to such.
There are persons whe, imagining themselves
to be OF great consequence. become inflated with
PRIDE But aiiiiction, calamity, soro trial take
away haughtlness. History all along nrovas