The Economics of the Magnificat

       I had thought to title this short essay, "The Economics of Mother Mary,"  in order to emphasize certain aspects of the cosmic situation, but decided on the title, "The Economics of the Magnificat," in order to emphasize certain other aspects of the same situation.

       The Blessed Mother holds a very high place in the consciousness of the Church Universal, as she herself prophesied: "From now on all generations will call me blessed."  The title, Magnificat, comes from the first word (in Latin) of her unique praise and prophecy concerning her Son.

       The nine verses in Holy Scripture which comprise the Magnificat provide to us the sacred center of the mind of that holy Woman who gave to the Lord Jesus Christ that eternal humanity which enabled Him to proclaim with His lordly humility that He is, truly and always, the Son of Man.  Her words have been the meditation and inspiration of millions of people, saints and sinners alike; and I cannot hope to add one thing to all that has been said, and thought, and felt, about her words, which I include at the end of this essay.

       But I do want to focus my mind, and yours, on a few phrases of hers, and make some observations about the recent past, and the present day.

       She says, early on, that God has "regarded the humility of his handmaid" -- referring to herself of course, and by inclusion, any and all of His servants who, like her, enjoy only a humble estate.  Later in this word of the Holy Ghost, she says of the Lord God, with all the truthful intensity of blessedness:

He hath shewed might in his arm:

he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat,

and hath exalted the humble.

He hath filled the hungry with good things;

and the rich he hath sent empty away.

       I do not think that the Holy Mother has anything like "class warfare" in mind; certainly I do not think that she had in mind anything like the class warfare of Karl Marx or his Bolshevik or Leninist-Trotskyist successors, which seem (to me) to be a hideous parody of her holy vision -- a kind of Anti-Vision, if you will.

       But there is a time when the truly hungry and truly humble people of the world will be fed; and more than that, will be filled with good things.  And the rich, the proud, the mighty on their seats of governance, will be emptied by God Himself, and sent away.

       These days may be upon us.  Certainly, in some parts of the world today, they seem to be.  I think that this would be a good time for all people of humility and of good will (there is no difference) to meditate upon what the Holy Mother has said.

       Empires rise and fall; nations come into existence and pass away; schools of economic thought become popular and unpopular.  Her words -- and the deeds of her Son -- will not pass away:  they will be fulfilled.  Capitalists, revolutionists, materialists, spiritualists, take note.

       Please think on these things as you choose sides in the economic and social upheavals that are upon us, and those which are yet to be.  Both the Holy Mother and the Eternal Son have spoken:  the Lord God is opposed to the arrogant and powerful rich, and is favorable to the common people.

       Here is the Magnificat, from the Gospel of St. Luke:

And Mary said,

My soul doth magnify the Lord,

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid;

for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Because he that is mighty,

hath done great things to me;

and holy is his name.

And his mercy is from generation unto generations,

to them that fear him.

He hath shewed might in his arm:

he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat,

and hath exalted the humble.

He hath filled the hungry with good things;

and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He hath received Israel his servant,

being mindful of his mercy:

As he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

*       *       *

Your comments, especially on the current economic situation in the world, are most welcome.