Magnificat

Virgin with Child, or Our Lady of the Students

Claude-Louis Vassé, 1722. © NDP

The text of the Magnificat, or the Song of Mary, humble servant of the Lord, uses the words of several Old Testament songs and has been the Church’s canticle for grace for several Christian generations. Every evening it is sung in Vespers services in the cathedral.

Click here to listen to the Royal Tone Magnificat sung in the Notre-Dame choir.

Magníficat ánima méa Dóminum,
Et exultávit spíritus méus in Déo salutári méo.
Quia respéxit humilitátem ancíllæ súæ,
ecce enim ex hoc beátam me dícent ómnes generatiónes.
Quia fécit míhi mágna qui pótens est :
et sánctum nómen éjus
Et misericórdia éjus a progénie in progénies timéntibus éum.
Fécit poténtiam in bráchio súo :
dispérsit supérbos ménte córdis súi.
Depósuit poténtes de séde,
et exaltávit húmiles.
Esuriéntes implévit bónis :
et dívites dimísit inánes.
Suscépit Israël púerum súum,
recordátus misericórdiæ súæ.
Sicut locútus est ad pátres nóstros,
Abraham et sémini éjus in saécula.
Glória Pátri et Fílio
et Spirítui Sáncto,
Sicut érat in princípio, et nunc, et sémper,
et in saécula sæculórum. Amen.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;
he has looked with favour 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,
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm
and has scattered the proud in their conceit,
Casting down the mighty from their thrones
and lifting up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good thing
and sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,
to remember his promise of mercy,
The promise made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his children for ever. Amen.