The Magnificat

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

The monogram with the “A” and “M” intertwined stand for the Latin phrase Auspice Maria, meaning “Under the protection of Mary.”

During the 3rd century, the Roman Emperor Constantine was engaged in a fierce battle. In his desperation, he had a vision of the Auspice Maria symbol appearing in the sky.

Constantine interpreted this vision as a divine sign, believing that the symbol would bring him victory. Inspired, he ordered his soldiers to bear the Auspice Maria on their shields and banners. Astonishingly, he achieved a resounding victory in the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 AD.

This event marked a turning point in history, as Constantine embraced Christianity and issued the Edict of Milan, granting religious freedom to Christians. The Auspice Maria became widely recognized as a symbol of divine protection, victory, and the triumph of Christianity.