Vatican City, Feb 14, 2006 / 22:00 pm
Today brought to an end an ongoing series of catechesis--begun by the late John Paul II--which covered the entire sequence of Psalms and canticles that constitute the Church’s Liturgy of the Hours and Vespers prayers.
The catechesis came during Pope Benedict’s regular Wednesday audience, held today at the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall.
Speaking before a large crowd, the Holy Father said that "Having reached the end of this textual pilgrimage - like a journey through a flower garden of praise, invocation, prayer and contemplation - we now come to the canticle that closes the celebration of Vespers: the Magnificat."
The Magnificat is Mary’s response to the Angel Gabriel’s announcement that she was chosen to be the Mother of the Messiah. It is recorded in the Gospel of Luke.