The Magnificat is so close to us!

How closely then are we touched by Mary’s canticle (1), how deeply it scrutinizes us and how radically it “cuts the roots!”

How stupid and incoherent I would be if, every day, at Vespers, I were to repeat with Mary that God “cast the mighty from their thrones” while in the meantime I continued to hanker after power, a higher place, promotion, a better career and lost my peace of mind if I didn’t succeed; if every day I were to proclaim with Mary that God “sends the rich away empty” and in the meantime I hankered tirelessly after riches and possessions and ever more refined things; if I were to prefer being empty-handed before God to being empty-handed before the world. How stupid I would be if I were to continue saying with Mary that God “raises the lowly,” that he is near to them while he keeps the proud and rich at a distance, and then did the very opposite. 

(1) Also known as the Magnificat 

Father Raniero Cantalamessa

Meditation on the Magnificat and the Visitation, second Advent sermon, December 13, 2019