“He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;”
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful — helped (antelabeto, taken hold of, assisted) communicates the active divine support of Israel as servant. Remembering to be merciful: the mercy is the faithfulness to the covenant promises — God's help to Israel is not new improvisation but the execution of what was always promised. The servant Israel is both the historical nation and the community of the faithful within it — those who, like Mary, receive the Lord's word.
Church Fathers on Luke 1:54
After a general mention of the Divine mercy and holiness, the Virgin changes the subject to the strange and marvelous dispensation of the new incarnation, saying, He has holpen his servant Israel, &c. as a physician relieves the sick, becoming visible among men, that He might make Israel (i.e. him who sees God) His servant.
That is, obedient and humble; for he who disdains to be made humble, cannot be saved.
For by Israel she means not Israel after the flesh, whom their own title made noble, but the spiritual Israel, which retained the name of faith, straining their eyes to see God by faith.
Read all 6 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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