On the liturgical calendar May 31 is the feast of the Visitation. What a lovely way to celebrate Memorial Day by asking our Mother’s intercession for all the women and men who have died in service to our country and to commend to Mary’s protection, those who are in harms way in defense of our liberty and freedom.
This painting is by Brother Mickey McGrath, an Oblate of St. Francis de Sales of Bee Still Studio. He painted this for a convent at Visitation parish in Chicago and I think it so captures the joy of the cousins visit as they began to make sense of what it was that God was asking each of them to do in the great work of his plan for salvation.
The Magnificat
Today, we also renew our commitment to be part of God’s plan as we pray:
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm and he as scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he has made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever. Amen
This is one of my favorites!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/WLANL_-_efraa_-_middelrijns_altaar.jpg
And nobody can express it better than Bach!
A good setting seems a good sort of commentary – what can we learn about, and from, a word, or verse?
Among my other favorites are all the Monteverdi settings I have heard; and Hendrik Andriessen has a very good one.
What a lovely reflection. It is no coincidence that our evening prayer includes this wonderful Magnificat. Certainly by praying it each evening, we can reflect on the Incarnation in our lives and be encouraged to “proclaim the greatness of the Lord.” Thanks for the timely and gentle reminder to renew this important commitment.
The Magnificat Publication has just published an art book and CD with various settings, paintings and reflections on the Magnificat for all of we fans!! http://www.magnificat.com