Martin Luther's 'Evangelical Praise of the Mother of God' prayer

[Sword of the Lord]

Where does it come from? Which book or writing?

 

[ContraMundum]

Right here: WORKS OF MARTIN LUTHER - THE MAGNIFICAT - TRANSLATED AND EXPLAINED 1520-1

 

[Athanasias]

Right here: WORKS OF MARTIN LUTHER - THE MAGNIFICAT - TRANSLATED AND EXPLAINED 1520-1

Cool

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Thanks Contra, I looked and looked and fell short. God bless!

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

The prayer in question:
O Blessed Virgin, Mother of God, what great comfort God has shown us in you, by so graciously regarding your unworthiness and low estate. This encourages us to believe that henceforth He will not despise us poor and lowly ones, but graciously regard us also, according to your example.

 

[Sword of the Lord]

Yes, thank you Contra.

 

[atonement511]

great prayer, i had it taped to the inside of my prayer book for quite some time. it is my understanding there were more that have not been translated into english?

 

[FireDragon76]

Pardon me for asking, but what do you think he meant by Mary's "unworthiness". Is he speaking of sin, or something else? Perhaps that we should all aim to be "poor and lowly" spiritually?

From a non-Lutheran perspective, Mary's magnificat is perfect evidence of her worthiness to be the Mother of God. An unworthy woman would never dare to praise God after learning they are about to have a scandalous, out-of-wedlock birth.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Pardon me for asking, but what do you think he meant by Mary's "unworthiness". Is he speaking of sin, or something else? Perhaps that we should all aim to be "poor and lowly" spiritually?

From a non-Lutheran perspective, Mary's magnificat is perfect evidence of her worthiness to be the Mother of God. An unworthy woman would never dare to praise God after learning they are about to have a scandalous, out-of-wedlock birth.

Very true, but easy to explain, from the Magnificat:
"For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden..."

According to Scripture, the Blessed Virgin Mary considered herself unworthy and mentioned her "low estate".

 

[FireDragon76]

OK, thank you. I was trying to be charitable to Luther, realizing he often used expansive and imprecise language.

One thing that strikes me about the Magnificat is how bold it is. I remember years ago hearing an Anglican preacher give a sermon about the Magnificat, and she talked about how Mary's disposition goes against her nation's general tendency to false modesty, and how she felt Christians could learn something from St. Mary's example. Instead of false modesty, she responds with praising God. Which is a very Jewish way of looking at things, I suppose.

 

[Athanasias]

The prayer in question:
O Blessed Virgin, Mother of God, what great comfort God has shown us in you, by so graciously regarding your unworthiness and low estate. This encourages us to believe that henceforth He will not despise us poor and lowly ones, but graciously regard us also, according to your example.

Nice prayer!