"Mary lived with her eyes fixed on Christ..." St. JPII

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What are the “great things” that the Almighty accomplished in Mary? The expression recurs in the Old Testament to indicate the deliverance of the people of Israel from Egypt or Babylon. In the Magnificat, it refers to the mysterious event of Jesus’ virginal conception, which occurred in Nazareth after the angel’s announcement.

In the Magnificat, a truly theological song because it reveals the experience Mary had of God’s looking upon her, God is not only the Almighty to whom nothing is impossible, as Gabriel had declared (cf. Lk 1:37), but also the Merciful, capable of tenderness and fidelity towards every human being.
  1. “He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away” (Lk 1: 51-53).
With her wise reading of history, Mary leads us to discover the criteria of God’s mysterious action. Overturning the judgements of the world, he comes to the aid of the poor and lowly, to the detriment of the rich and powerful, and in a surprising way he fills with good things the humble who entrust their lives to him (cf. Redemptoris Mater, n. 37).

While these words of the song show us Mary as a concrete and sublime model, they give us to understand that it is especially humility of heart which attracts God’s kindness.

God fulfils his promises in Mary with abundant generosity
  1. Lastly, the song exalts the fulfilment of God’s promises and his fidelity to the chosen people: “He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever” (Lk 1:54-55).
Filled with divine gifts, Mary does not limit her vision to her own personal case, but realizes how these gifts show forth God’s mercy towards all his people. In her, God fulfils his promises with a superabundance of fidelity and generosity.

Inspired by the Old Testament and by the spirituality of the daughter of Zion, the Magnificat surpasses the prophetic texts on which it is based, revealing in her who is “full of grace” the beginning of a divine intervention which far exceeds Israel’s messianic hopes: the holy mystery of the Incarnation of the Word.

Taken from:
L’Osservatore Romano
Weekly Edition in English
13 November 1996, page 11
L’Osservatore Romano is the newspaper of the Holy See.
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Dear James,

Thanks for your reply, but I wonder if you are really listening to Mary’s words . You seem to insist on our NOT giving any honor to Mary when in fact the Holy Spirit inspired the Scriptures you quoted. The Catholic Church for centuries has been honoring her as God honored her in choosing her to be Mother of His Only Begotten Son, the Incarnate Word made Flesh.

You seem to be saying the contrary. God did great things for Mary, but you seem to prefer everyone should ignore her. We cannot decrease as St. John the Baptist cried out if Jesus does not increase in us as He did in Mary. We imitate Christ in honoring Mary as He did.

I really do not want to “debate” with you, James. I did not want to ignore your reply to me but please ponder again the Scripture. If God’s Word does not convince you to honor Mary, I can only continue to keep you in my prayers; I do not think any more words from me will help. Sincerely, I’m sorry you see anything wrong with drawing closer to Christ by drawing closer to God’s Mother.
 
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It is YOU who have missed the Scripture. In every word she speaks, she points to Christ, NOT TO HERSELF. The whole Magnificat is less about her and more about God. If you want to truly honor her, follow her words “Do whatever He tells you” instead of talking about a lack of devotion to her.
 
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