Mary’s rallying cry is not for the faint of heart

Mary’s rallying cry is not for the faint of heart

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Women’s roles in society and in the church have taken on a new meaning in the last few years. With the #metoo movement and a new awareness of how women have been exploited or treated as second-class citizens, we might also examine our implicit biases about Mary.

The Magnificat which we recall today is not a canticle for the faint of heart. It is the rally cry of a person whose strength transcends her own societal boundaries and whose courage can inspire a new model for women in the church. Click To Tweet

Do we view Mary has a submissive vessel of God’s will or a rebel who sang of the mighty being overthrown? In our religious imagination, expressed in our preaching, prayers, and musical choices, is Mary solely a pure virgin or was she a bold teacher of Jesus from whom he learned to speak and act prophetically with courage?

The Magnificat which we recall today is not a canticle for the faint of heart. It is the rally cry of a person whose strength transcends her own societal boundaries and whose courage can inspire a new model for women in the church.

This post was first published in “GIA Quarterly: A Liturgical Music Journal.”

Image credit: Thom Masat, Unsplash, CC0.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *