Magnifies (Part 4): Called to Greatness
“My soul magnifies the Lord.” —Luke 1:46
This five-part series is a slow, prayerful look at a single line of Scripture. Mary’s words in the Magnificat aren’t just a poetic moment—they reveal something essential about her and about what our own souls are meant to do.
I’m no biblical scholar, but I can’t help but notice the similarity between magnify and magnanimity. Both come from the Latin magna—“great.”
Magnanimity is often misunderstood as merely “wanting to do great things.” But true magnanimity is more than ambition—it is greatness of soul for the sake of someone else. It’s not looking at yourself in the lens. It’s not building a platform or reputation. It’s not desiring greatness for your own sake.
It’s desiring greatness for God’s sake.
Mary says, “My soul magnifies the Lord,” and then adds, “He has done great things for me.” Yes—He has. But not just to Mary—through her. Her greatness is in her self-gift. In her fiat. In her transparency. In her willingness to be a window, not a wall.
That’s magnanimity. And that’s what we’re invited into.