The Gospel of Luke + U2

While at the haidresser's today, I caught up on some magazine reading, including a recent issue of Rolling Stone. The cover story was on U2 and their new album, No Line on the Horizon. Hie thee off to iTunes and download it; you won't be sorry.

Anyway, the RS article talked about the inspiration behind "Magnificent," one of those songs that can make you break out in wild goosebumps. "Magnificent" was influenced by the Gospel of Luke, specifically, the Magnificat, a joyous prayer told in Mary's voice. Here it is in English, followed by the Latin:

My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden,
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm:
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy;
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His posterity forever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

-*-

Magníficat ánima mea Dóminum,
et exsultávit spíritus meus
in Deo salvatóre meo,
quia respéxit humilitátem
ancíllæ suæ.

Ecce enim ex hoc beátam
me dicent omnes generatiónes,
quia fecit mihi magna,
qui potens est,
et sanctum nomen eius,
et misericórdia eius in progénies
et progénies timéntibus eum.
Fecit poténtiam in bráchio suo,
dispérsit supérbos mente cordis sui;
depósuit poténtes de sede
et exaltávit húmiles.
Esuriéntes implévit bonis
et dívites dimísit inánes.
Suscépit Ísrael púerum suum,
recordátus misericórdiæ,
sicut locútus est ad patres nostros,
Ábraham et sémini eius in sæcula.

Glória Patri et Fílio
et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio,
et nunc et semper,
et in sæcula sæculórum.

Amen.

-*-

Goosebumps, I tell you.

The RS article also talked about the process of making music and how the group recorded songs all over the world, how they immersed themselves in the beauty of whatever moment moved them to song, how they sometimes took the piss out of each other when necessary. ;) U2 the group is nothing more than four men who are a welter of contradictions in themselves, from the lofty to the earthy, from the spiritual to the profane.

I just love 'em.