Irish Magnificat

"Irish Magnificat" is a metrical English paraphrase of Mary’s great song of praise from the Gospel of Luke. Set to a sturdy, traditional-sounding melody and harmonised here by Fr. Paul Nkwai, it transforms the familiar biblical canticle into a strophic hymn that a choir and congregation can easily sing together.

The lyrics walk through the entirety of the Magnificat across six verses, beginning with Mary's personal rejoicing and moving outward to God's justice—scattering the proud, lifting the lowly, and feeding the hungry. In the choir loft, this piece is a natural choice for Marian feast days like the Assumption or the Immaculate Conception. It also serves wonderfully as a post-Communion thanksgiving or a recessional hymn, allowing the whole church to echo Mary's gratitude before heading out into the world.