Part ten, Chapter 11: The True Canticle of Mary's Heart

The True Canticle of Mary's Heart

I CALL the Magnificat the true Canticle of the most holy Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary for several reasons.

First of all, it originated in her immaculate Heart and its melody vibrated her heart-strings before it found voice on her lips.

Secondly, the words were sung only through the impetus and inspiration flowing from her Heart-from her corporeal, spiritual and divine Heart. 'The corporeal Heart of Mary, being filled with acute and extraordinary joy, impelled her most holy mouth to sing this Magnificat with extraordinary fervor and jubilation; her spiritual Heart, being wholly delighted and enraptured i n God, brought forth from her hallowed lips them ecstatic words: "And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." (1) But Her divine Heart, that is to say, the divine Child who was hidden in her blessed womb and dwelling in her Heart, the soul of her soul, the spirit of her spirit and the Heart of her Heart, is the primary author of this canticle. It is this divine Heart which inspired the mind of the holy Mother with the thoughts and truths contained in the canticle. It is the Heart of Jesus who pronounces through her, its prophetic utterance of praise.

Thirdly, the Magnificat is the canticle of the Heart of the Mother of uncreated love, that is, the canticle of the Holy Spirit, Who is the spirit and the Heart of the Eternal Father and the Divine Son. The Holy Ghost is also the Heart and the Spirit of the Virgin Mother, pervading and possessing her so completely that her very presence and voice filled with the same spirit St. Zachary, St. Elizabeth and her unborn child, St. John the Baptist.

Finally, it is the canticle of the Heart and the love of Our Lady, because it is the divine love inflaming her utterly that inspired her to pronounce the words of this marvellous canticle-words which, according to St. Bernardine, are like so many flames of love darting from the ardent (1). Luke 1, 47.

furnace of divine love burning in the immaculate Heart of this incomparable Virgin.

0 canticle of love, 0 virginal canticle of the Heart of the Mother of love, having thine origin i n the Heart itself of the God of love, Who is Jesus, and in the Heart of the personal and incarnate love which is the' Holy Spirit, it is fitting only for the most blessed lips of the Mother of love to sing and pronounce thy message I The very Seraphim deem themselves unworthy to do so. How is it, then, that miserable sinners like us date to repeat thy divine words and to pronounce with our worldly mouths the ineffable mysteries thou dost contain? Oh, with what respect and veneration should this most holy canticle be recited and sung! Oh, what should be the purity of the tongue and the holiness of the lips that intone it! Oh, what fire and flames of love should it kindle in the hearts of the ecclesiastics and religious who repeat and sing it so often! One should indeed be all heart and love in order to sing and recite this canticle of love.

0 Mother of pure and tender love, deign to make us partakers of the holiness, fervor and love with which thou didst sing this admirable canticle here on earth, and as thou wilt sing i t everlastingly in heaven with all the angels and the saints. Obtain for us from thy Divine Son the grace to be numbered among those who will sing the Magnificat eternally with thee, that we may give immortal thanks to the most adorable Trinity for all the wonders wrought in thee and through thee, and for the countless graces bestowed on all mankind through thy blessed intercession. 279-