The Magnificat in today's Gospel is primarily a hymn of thanksgiving on the part of Mary for all that God has done for her. In this it echoes the prayer of Hannah in the responsorial psalm following on the first reading. But the Magnificat also shows Mary as the spokeswoman of the poor of her people crying out to God in a situation of need. It is because of this aspect of it that the prayer has become a favourite one for peoples in need of liberation all over the world. The role of Mary in such a situation has also changed. She is no longer considered as a remote statue-like figure but as someone concerned with the human situation especially when that situation is one of oppression.