Luke 1:46-55 (KJV)

And Mary said, 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 helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

This passage, called The Magnificat or The Canticle of Mary, always takes me back to my years serving the Roman Catholic Church as a music minister, and the many opportunities I had to participate in the praying of The Divine Office: a series of 7 short liturgies meant to be prayed daily at designated times. This passage is read or sung every day during Evening Prayer (Vespers), the second-to-last prayer of the day. The practice of the Divine Office has always been fascinating to me, and the years I spent participating in this kind of prayer taught me a lot about the beauty and power of rituals.

Lately, I’m making an effort to hold space for small, everyday rituals. I may not be saying a formal prayer seven times a day, but little daily tasks done with care and a spirit of gratitude can be just as spiritually centering as the Divine Office. For me, it might be carefully brewing my morning espresso, walking with my dogs, or taking a few minutes for deep breathing before beginning my daily piano practice. God is everywhere and anything can be Holy. What are the daily rituals in your life, and how can they help nourish your spirit this Advent season?

Something about the season of Advent always revitalizes my love for traditional sacred choral music, and there are so many brilliant pieces of music inspired by this passage. For those reading online, take five minutes to listen to this stirring and introspective choral setting of the Magnificat by Herbert Howells (1892-1983), a beloved composer of English sacred music. 

https://youtu.be/0ozfTPgXlS0?si=WG_njnsi0pJ9T158

Scott Ewing