"... Since there is no evidence that the Magnificat ever existed in a Semitic (Hebrew or Aramaic) form, there is no reason to think of Mary as the one who has composed it. It has not been preserved by a family tradition. The heavy dependence on the Greek Old Testament makes it evident that it is a cento-like composition, a mosaic of Old Testament expressions drawn from the LXX ... there are many other allusions, to which the notes on various verses call attention. The best way to ascertain the extent of dependence of the Magnificat on the Old Testament is to compare its Greek text with the Greek form of the Old Testament verses involved, especially with the Song of Hannah (1 Samuel 2:1-10), its principal model ... Moreover, it is hardly likely that Luke composed the Magnificat himself, since it fits so loosely into the present context. It has often been compared to the speeches in Acts, in which largely Lucan compositions give utterance to ideal sentiments of the speakers involved. This is true of the Magnificat, but it could be omitted without anything essential being lost to the narrative of the visitation itself. The song praises God's salvific activity in generic terms without anything specifically referring to Mary's visit to Elizabeth ..."