Magnificat is the Latin name of the canticle of Mary, the mother of Jesus, which she speaks to Elisabeth, the wife of Zechariah. Through these words, Mary reveals to Elisabeth that she is pregnant with the Saviour Jesus. The canticle appears in the Gospel of Luke, 1:46-55.

Latin:

Magnificat anima mea Dominum

Et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo.

Quia respexit humilitatem ancillæ suæ: ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.

Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen eius.

Et misericordia eius a progenie in progenies timentibus eum.

Fecit potentiam in bracchio suo, dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.

Deposuit potentes de sede et exaltavit humiles.

Esurientes implevit bonis et divites dimisit inanes,

Suscepit Israel puerum suum recordatus misericordiæ suæ,

Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semini eius in sæcula. (Vulgate)

English:

My soul doth magnify the Lord,

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. (KJV)

In Latin or in English, the text has been a favourite of many composers and forms a part of the Roman Catholic Vespers service and also the Anglican Evensong service. It is often coupled with the Nunc dimittis. Perhaps the best known Magnificat is that composed by Johann Sebastian Bach, BWV 243; other composers that have set the Magnificat include Claudio Monteverdi (as part of his 1610 Vespers of the Blessed Virgin); Antonio Vivaldi, Johann Kuhnau, Jan Dismas Zelenka , Sergei Rachmaninoff, and John Rutter.

In Eastern Orthodox worship, the Magnificat is typically sung during the Matins service, between the eighth and ninth odes in the canon. It is chanted and has a refrain that is sung:

"More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, without defilement you gave birth to God the Word: true Theotokos, we magnify you."