Mary is able to make a truly wonderful statement: “my soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord” (Lk. 1:46). Her very soul is able to proclaim the Lord’s greatness, her entire existence marvels in the good things that God has done. The Magnificat is a prayer that every Christian should aspire to say with total conviction. As we hear Mary proclaim that her whole being is dedicated to praising God’s goodness, we have to ask: how do I get to that point?
Consider the words that follow, the great prayer of the Magnificat. These words are words that the Church proclaims every evening at Vespers, and it encapsulates the attitude the Christian should have at that time of day. In the Magnificat, the Church asks us to look back on the day’s events and see how the words of Mary’s praise were made true by what we ourselves saw. Use the words that Mary proclaims, and make it into a checklist. Ask where you have seen those words fulfilled in the course of your day. Let the Magnificat remind you how you are surrounded by God’s goodness, and your soul will praise God along with Mary.