The Magnificat

in nomine patri, et filii, et spiritui sancto amen

It's been a while since my last post as work has been a b%#ch! Will update this front in another post.

Anyway, attended the lunchtime Assumption Mass at Singapore Conference Hall with the wife today - I must confess, I always enjoyed attending Mass with the wife, minus the elise and eliza!, as there is a special closeness and bond..... I know I know, this sounds sooooo mushy but its true! :-) That is why I tell my friends that a marriage MUST have a third-party! .. and He is God the Father himself...hehe (what were you thinking?!)

The priest was none other than Fr Peter Zhang from our very own St Anne's parish and it was good. Before he started, he asked how long he should take and someone said 40 minutes - and he was actually SPOT ON by ending the Mass 40 minutes later!

But what struck me most was his homily and since it was Assumption, he said that we should understand the significance of this Day and not just go through the motions just because it is a day of obligation.

He touched on The Magnificat and how it is such a beautiful prayer by Our Lady and he said the Rosary is a prayer that comforted him and strengthened him during his days as a seminarian. The Magnificat is a prayer of thanksgiving to God for His bountiful blessings and Fr Peter encouraged us to have our own personal Magnificat - to thank the Lord for the blessings that have come our way.

In a way, it was God's way of knocking me in the head ... to go back to basics. To be honest, I havent spent time with God for a looong while - with the work and kids but deep down I know that He is with me always.... guiding me and encouraging me. I just know!

So here is Our Lady's Magnificat in English and Latin:
My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden,
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm:
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy;
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His posterity forever.

Magnificat anima mea Dominum;
Et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo,
Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae; ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.
Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen ejus,
Et misericordia ejus a progenie in progenies timentibus eum.
Fecit potentiam brachio suo;
Dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.
Deposuit potentes de sede, et exaltavit humiles.
Esurientes implevit bonis, et divites dimisit inanes.
Sucepit Israel, puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae suae,
Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semeni ejus in saecula.

And this is my Magnificat to God:
My soul glorifies the Lord
For He is always my Redeemer and King
He has blessed me with a wonderful family
For which I shoulder it with joy and responsibility
I asked that He continues
To be the Rock and Light
And I consecrate the Teng family to thee O Lord
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ!
May my family - the wife, Elise and Eliza
be a beacon; salt and lamp
So that Your glorious and mighty name is magnified and worshipped!
Your Name be praised, worshipped and exulted Forever!

And so... this is my Magnificat to God.

in nomine patri, et filii, et spiritui sancto amen