Magnificat in Latin ©2023

Magnificat anima mea Dominum;

Et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo,

Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae; ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.

Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen ejus

My soul rejoices in the greatness of the Lord

And my spirit rejoiced in God my Savior

for he looked with favor on his lowly servant, from this all generations will call me blessed.

Because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and his holy name

The Magnificat; Latin for “My soul magnifies the Lord”. It is a song that is incorporated into the liturgical services of Catholic, Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox churches. Magnificat also known as “the Song of Mary”. The text of the hymn is taken from the Gospel of Luke (1:46–55) where Mary says to her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist, “My soul rejoices in the greatness of the Lord”. After Mary greets Elizabeth, John the Baptist, moves within Elizabeth's womb.

 

A brief explanation of the symbolism in this painting:

In the Latin version of this image the cap “M” from Magnificat and cap “M” from My in the English version is fashioned by a stylized date palm that is traditionally portrayed as a form nourishment would have been used by the Holy Family. Angel’s flank both stems the make up the vertical strokes of the cap “M”. Mary is seated under the center section of the cap “M” holding a heart referencing love for the child she is carrying. A pregnant Elizabeth stands next to her with her hands folded in prayer.

 At the top center of the icon, you see a very faint ancient star map that extends down underneath the type. On the top left intertwined with the date palm is a brambling vine that becomes, at the bottom of the image, a crown of thorns which the Roman soldiers capped Christ with before his Crucifixion. Within the ring of thorns, we see the Christ child holding a reed in his hands, while leaning against, and slightly siting on the wooden shaft of a lance and a stalk that has a large sponge attached to it. These three instruments will be used during Crucifixion of Christ. In the background, behind the spear and reed is a golden mandala pattern. In Hinduism and Buddhism, mandala means “circle.” The circle has been universally accepted as the symbol of eternity and never-ending existence. To the left of the Christ child there is a bee that is and emblem of Christ. It is a reminder of his forgiveness, through correlation with the sweetness of his honey. A reminder of justice with its sting, and virtue because of its industrious habits of diligence, work, and good order.

In tingled within the bramble vine there is there is a highly stylized acanthus vine. In ancient Greek architecture acanthus ornament appears extensively in the capitals of the Corinthian and Composite orders of architecture. It also can be seen applied to friezes, dentils, and other decorated areas. In Christianity the acanthus leaves represent resurrection. The four petaled pink flower is used to symbolize life, love, and affection. I use the butterfly as a symbol for angels. The butterfly is also a symbol of the cycles of life, caterpillar, chrysalis and finally, the butterfly. The ants that are scattered throughout the composition are used because of their industrious habits, as symbols of activity, diligence, work, and good order. The spots of the seven-spot ladybug symbolize Mary’s Seven Joys and Seven Sorrows.

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