The Magnificat
Magnificat Anima Mea Dominum
Mary's own prayer — the Magnificat from Luke 1 in traditional English and Latin, prayed by the Church every evening for fifteen centuries.
My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid: for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because He that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is His name. And His mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear Him. He hath shewed might in His arm: He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich He hath sent empty away. He hath received Israel His servant, being mindful of His mercy. As He spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his seed for ever.
In Latin
Magnificat anima mea Dominum, et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo, quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae. Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes, quia fecit mihi magna, qui potens est, et sanctum nomen eius, et misericordia eius a progenie in progenies timentibus eum.
History
The longest passage of Mary's recorded words in Scripture (Luke 1:46–55), spoken at the Visitation when Elizabeth greeted her as the mother of the Lord. The Church has prayed it at Vespers — every single evening — since at least the sixth century. The English above follows the traditional Douay-Rheims rendering.
When to Pray
In the evening, in thanksgiving after Communion, and whenever God has done something in your life that deserves to be named out loud.