Did you know that Virgin Mary’s prayer the Magnificat in Luke 1:46-56 has its origins in the Old Testament?

Mary’s prayer echo’s the themes in the following Holy Scripture…

* My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour. (Luke 1:46-47)

Isaiah 61:10 “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness…”

1 Samuel 2:1“My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in the Lord.”

* for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.  For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; (Luke 1:48)

I Samuel 1:11 “O, Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy maidservant, and remember me…”

* for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. (Luke 1:49)

Psalm 71:19 “Thy power and thy righteousness O God, reach the high heavens. Thou who has done great things, O God who is like thee?”

I Samuel 2:2 “There is none holy like the Lord, there is none besides thee; there is no rock like our God.”

* And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. (Luke 1:50)

Psalm 103: 17 “But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear him.”

* He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, (Luke 1:51)

Psalm 89: 13-14 “Thou hast a mighty arm; strong is thy hand, high thy right hand…”

* He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; (Luke 1:52)

Sirach 10: 14 “The Lord has cast down the thrones of rulers, and has seated the lowly in their place…”

* He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. (Luke 1:53)

I Samuel 2:5 “Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.”

Psalm 107:9 “For he satisfies him who is thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.”

* He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, (Luke 1:54)

Isaiah 41: 8-9 “But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, ‘You are my servant I have chosen you and will not cast you off’”

* As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.” (Luke 1: 55-56)

Isaiah 41: 10 “Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”