The Hail Mary, Magnificat, and Benedictus (Luke 1)

Episode 255: The Hail Mary, Magnificat, and Benedictus

Luke 1

A letter to Theophilus

^1-4 Though many have written about the things we believe, as told by eyewitnesses, it seemed like a good idea for me, having a perfect understanding about everything from the very first, to write to you, Theophilus, so that you can know for sure that the things you've been taught are true.

An angel announces John the Baptist's birth

⁵ In the days of King Herod of Judea, there lived a priest name Zechariah and his wife Elisabeth.

⁶ They were both righteous people, who obeyed all of God's commandments perfectly.

⁷ But they had no children, because Elisabeth was barren, and now they were old.

^8-13 One day, when Zechariah was burning incense in God's temple, an angel of God appeared to him and said,

Don't be afraid. Your prayer has been heard and Elisabeth will have a son. Call him John.

¹⁵ He'll be great in God's sight, won't drink alcohol, and will be filled with the Holy Ghost before he's even born

God strikes Zechariah dumb (for doubting the angel)

¹⁸ Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I believe this. We are too old to have children.”

^19-20 The angel said,

I'm Gabriel. You won't be able to speak until your son is born, because you didn't believe me.

²² When Zechariah came out of the temple, he couldn't speak.

Gabriel announces Jesus's birth

^26-27 When Elisabeth was six months pregnant, God sent Gabriel to Nazareth in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary, who was engaged to a man named Joseph.

²⁸ The angel came in unto her, and said,

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women.

²⁹ Mary was troubled when she saw the angel.

³⁰ But the angel said, “Don't be afraid. You've found favor with God. You’ll have a son and name him Jesus.”

³⁴ Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen since I am a virgin.”

³⁵ The angel said,

The Holy Ghost will come upon you, and God's power will overshadow you, so the holy thing that you give birth to will be called the Son of God.

³⁶ Your cousin Elisabeth has conceived a son in her old age and is now in her sixth month of pregnancy. And people called her barren.

³⁸ Mary said, “I'm God's handmaid. Let it happen like you said.” And the angel went away.

Mary visits Elisabeth

³⁹ Mary went to visit her cousin Elisabeth.

⁴¹ When Elisabeth heard Mary's voice, the baby jumped in her womb. And she was filled with the Holy Ghost.

⁴² Elisabeth said to Mary,

Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

The Magnificat

^46-55 Mary said,

My soul doth magnify the Lord....

Let's call him John

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elisabeth for about three months, and then returned home.

⁵⁷ When the time came, Elisabeth delivered a son.

⁵⁹ When he was eight days old, he was circumcised, and they called him Zechariah, after his father.

⁶⁰ But Elisabeth said, “No, his name is John.”

⁶¹ They said to her, “No one in your family is called by that name.”

⁶² So they asked his father what he'd like to name him.

⁶³ Zechariah wrote down the name John.

⁶⁴ And immediately he could speak again.

Zechariah's prayer (The Benedictus)

⁶⁷ Zechariah was filled with the Holy Ghost and prophesied, saying,

^68-79 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel....

⁸⁰ And the child grew strong in spirit, living in the desert until he appeared publicly in Israel.

A few more words about this episode

Theophilus (1:1): No one knows who Theophilus was, but since the name means "God lover," it could be a generic name that refers to anyone who loves God.
As told by eyewitnesses (1:2): The author was not, and did not claim to be, an eyewitness to any of the events he is writing about. He is using other written and aural accounts, which he claims can be traced to eyewitnesses.
It seemed good to me (1:3): The author doesn't identify himself, and no one knows who he might have been. There are a few things that can be known about him, however. He was likely a well-educated, Greek-speaking, gentile Christian who lived outside of Palestine. He is also the author of the Acts of the Apostles.
In the days of King Herod of Judea (1:5): Herod the Great ruled Judea from 37-4 BCE.
Elisabeth was barren (1:7): Elisabeth was just one of the many barren women in the Bible.
You won't be able to speak until your son is born, because you didn't believe me. (1:20): The angel Gabriel strikes Zechariah dumb for asking how Elisabeth would become pregnant. Mary was also skeptical, yet she received no punishment. Why was Zechariah punished but Mary was not?
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women. (1:28): The angel Gabriel starts the Hail Mary; Elisabeth finishes the first part of the prayer in verse 42 by saying, "Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, (Jesus)"
The Magnificat (1:46-56): The Magnificat is said at Vespers.
When he was eight days old, he was circumcised. (1:59): See Leviticus 12:3.
The Benedictus (1:68-79): The title Benedictus is taken from the first word of the canticle in Latin. It is said at Lauds.