Mary, Mother of Jesus

Mary the Mother of Jesus lived from approximately 18BC - 41 AD. In Greek, she is known as the "Theotokos" or "God-bearer"? The English equivalent is Mother of God.

The Magnificat  (aka the "Song of Mary", the "Canticle of Mary", or the "Ode of the Theotokos") is from Luke 1:46-55 and is sung after she visits her pregnant cousin Elizabeth, John the Baptist jumps in her womb, and Elizabeth praises Mary for her faith:

My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior;

For He has regarded

the lowliness of His handmaiden.

For behold, from this day

all generations will call me blessed.

For the Mighty One has done great things to 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 cast down the mighty from their thrones

and has exalted the lowly.

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 seed forever.