Magnificat is a ministry to Catholic
women. Its purpose is to help Catholic women open more and more to the Holy
Spirit through a deeper commitment of their lives to Jesus as Lord and to
impart the Holy Spirit to one another by their love, service, and sharing the
good news of salvation. It thus provides opportunities which will foster a
desire to grow in holiness.
Magnificat ministers to those women in and out of the
Catholic Charismatic Renewal whose faith in the person of Jesus Christ has
allowed them to believe in the activity of God's spirit in their lives. It also
has great appeal to those women who may be struggling with faith or who have
lost touch with the Church. It can
be a valuable evangelistic tool.
The History
Magnificat was begun by a group of Catholic women from
the Archdiocese of New Orleans who observed a need among Catholic women for a
faith-sharing experience in a relaxed social setting. With the encouragement of
Archbishop Philip M. Hannan and Bishop Stanley J. Ott, then Auxiliary Bishop of
New Orleans,
its first function, a prayer breakfast, took place on October 7, 1981.
Magnificat is a private association of the Christian
faithful, whose statutes were originally approved by the Archdiocese of New
Orleans and are in accord with the norm of Canon 305.2 of the 1983 Code of
Canon Law. While Magnificat began under the auspices of the Archdiocese of New
Orleans and was first incorporated in the State of Louisiana, each local chapter functions with
permission of the local ordinary and is incorporated in its respective state.
It was born out of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal
and has been nurtured by it.
Magnificat (pronounced Mag-níf-e-cot) is the
verb in the Latin phrase, "Magnificat anima mea Dominum" -
"My soul magnifies the Lord." These words recorded in Luke 1:46 are
the beginning of Mary's response to Elizabeth's
joyful greeting. The entire scene of the Visitation is the inspiration for this
ministry, which adopts the name of Mary's hymn of praise and the spirit of this
biblical encounter as its own. Following the example of Mary and Elizabeth,
this woman-to-woman ministry within the Roman Catholic Church attempts to
generate a lively faith in God and His action in our lives along with a love
for Mary and the Church.
The Objectives of the Magnificat
Live out the mystery of Mary's visit to Elizabeth
Help Catholic women to open more and more to the Holy Spirit through a
deeper commitment of their lives to Jesus as Lord and to impart the Holy
Spirit to one another by their love, service, and sharing the good news of
salvation
Provide opportunities which foster growth in holiness
Sponsor the Magnificat
Meal, the
essential function of Magnificat
Magnificat encourages Catholic women to grow in
holiness through the following means:
Daily personal prayer
Realization of the personal love of God the Father
Personal Knowledge of and love for Jesus Christ and commitment to Him
as Lord
Experience of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit and openness
to all His gifts
Frequent participation in the sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and
Reconciliation
Study and daily reading of the Sacred Scriptures, the word of God
Deep love for and loyalty to the Catholic Church, as expressed through
the Church's teaching authority, the pope and the bishops in communion
with Him, who serve as guides in matters of faith and morals
Sensitivity to the needs of the Church and willingness to address
these needs through the corporal and spiritual works of mercy
Deep love for and devotion to Mary as mother and model of all
Christians, especially women
Appreciation of the vocation of Christian Women
Reverence for the sanctity of life from its origins to its fulfillment
in God
Fostering the work of intercessory prayer, and
Promoting unity as expressed in Ephesians 4:3 - "Make every
effort to preserve the unity which has the Spirit as its origin and peace
as its binding force."
The Magnificat Meal
The Magnificat Meal is the essential function of
Magnificat. This two-to-three hour gathering takes place at least four times a
year, providing the opportunity for:
A Shared Meal
Can be breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Fellowship
Offering women a chance to share and enjoy one
another in the atmosphere of God's presence and love.
Praise
A period of time in communal praise and worship
centers the participants on the Lord; it remains open to the Charismatic gifts
while being sensitive to the varied background of all present.
Personal Testimony
One woman's personal expression of God's action
in her life. This highlight is, in fact, the reason people come.
Intercessory Prayer
A time of prayer for the needs of the Church and of those present.
Daily Prayers
The Prayer of Magnificat
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed;
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm;
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever. (Luke 1:46-55)
