“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.”

Mary’s words of praise in the Magnificat, prayed nightly, can cause us to forget how profound the words are; we forget what Mary teaches us through them.  Mary takes no credit for anything.  She only points to God.  Mary proclaims God’s care of the poor and lowly.  He is faithful, coming “to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy.” We are invited to reflect on what Mary teaches through her great prayer of thanksgiving that we can make our own.  Our souls proclaim the greatness of the Lord and rejoice in God our Savior.

We are reminded to recall the great things done in us.  Truly, holy is his name.  The very feast is a reminder that the conqueror of death proves this through the assumption of his mother just as he has conquered death for us. May this day be one where we reaffirm our commitment to his mission through the renewal of religious vows or rededicating oneself as a lay disciple dedicated to bringing about the fulness of the kingdom.