PART III – The Magnificat and Hebrew Women’s Songs of Deliverance

(Part III of a potpourris of perspectives of our Blessed Mother Mary — prepared for discussion at a pre-concert lecture for Polyhumnia, St. Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church, NYC) . . . more reflections to follow:

Mary’s Magnificat: In the History of Hebrew Women’s Songs of Deliverance

Mary’s Magnificat follows in a Hebrew tradition of five biblical songs of God’s deliverance sung by women — beginning with the Song of the Sea in Exodus 15 sung by Miriam (another Mary, this one Moses’ and Aaron’s sister).  The Song of Deborah in Judges 5, the Song of Judith in the Apocrypha and the Song of Hannah in First Samuel also anticipate the New Testament Magnificat.

Miriam:

In the second chapter of Exodus an unnamed sister of Moses helps deliver him from the Nile River where he was hidden in a floating basket. Many commentators identify her as Miriam, who first…