Luke presents Mary as the one who is obedient—she listens and responds positively. Her unequivocal “Yes” to Angel Gabriel at the Annunciation marked the start of a lifetime of trust and hope. Luke also portrays Mary as one who ponders the mystery of God: “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke sees Mary as one who is reflective and prayerful. 

One of Mary’s titles is Mother of God. Mary is the model of motherhood. She nurtured Jesus, she witnessed his miracles, she pondered his preaching, she lived out his values, she walked beside him to Calvary, she embraced Jesus’s lifeless body.

John’s Gospel portrays Mary as the “go-to” person. At the wedding feast at Cana, it is Mary who draws people’s attention to Jesus, encouraging them to “Do whatever he tells you.” This phrase captures the nature of Mary’s discipleship—she does the will of God. It is also John’s Gospel which has Mary at the foot of the Cross of Jesus. It is within that setting that Jesus gifts his mother to the Church (and indeed to all humankind): “When Jesus, therefore, saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.”

The Magnificat, taken from Luke’s Gospel (1:46-55), is Mary’s hymn of praise to the Lord. It is also known as the Canticle of Mary in the Liturgy of the Hours, a special collection of scripture readings, psalms, and hymns that constitute what is known as the prayer of the church. 

Mary’s Song of Praise [The Magnificat]

And Mary said,

‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
     and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
 for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
    Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
 His mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
 He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
    and lifted up the lowly;
 he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and sent the rich away empty.
 He has helped his servant Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
    to Abraham and to his descendants forever.’

Louise East - Acting Religious Studies Coordinator