The Visitation commemorates the Blessed Virgin Mary's journey to assist her cousin Elizabeth, during which John the Baptist leaped in Elizabeth's womb, signaling the presence of the Incarnate Word, and Mary proclaimed her Magnificat.
The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary celebrates the profound encounter between two expectant mothers: Mary, bearing Jesus, and Elizabeth, bearing John the Baptist. This event, recounted in the Gospel of Luke, highlights Mary's selfless service and humility as she travels to aid her elder cousin. It is a pivotal moment demonstrating the early recognition of Christ's divine presence, as Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, proclaims Mary blessed among women and the Mother of her Lord, while John the Baptist leaps for joy in the womb. This feast emphasizes themes of charity, joy in the Holy Spirit, and the unique role of Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant, culminating in her beautiful prayer of praise, the Magnificat, which continues to inspire believers to magnify the Lord for His great works.
The Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary commemorates one of the most tender and profoundly significant events in the early life of the Mother of God, as recounted in the Gospel of Luke. Following the Annunciation, when the Archangel Gabriel revealed to Mary that she would conceive the Son of God by the power of the Holy Spirit, he also informed her that her elderly kinswoman, Elizabeth, had conceived a son in her old age, and was in her sixth month. This news, far from being a mere detail, served as a sign from God, and Mary, in her characteristic humility and charity, immediately set out to assist her cousin. Her journey from Nazareth in Galilee to the hill country of Judea, to a town traditionally identified as Ain Karim, was a considerable undertaking, likely involving several days of travel over challenging terrain. It was an act of pure selfless love, driven by her desire to serve rather than to be served, even as she carried within her the Incarnate Word of God. This journey highlights Mary's active response to God's call and her profound care for others, establishing her as a model of Christian charity and readiness to act upon divine inspiration.
Upon Mary's arrival at the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth, an extraordinary event unfolded. As Mary greeted Elizabeth, the infant in Elizabeth's womb, John the Baptist, leaped for joy. This spontaneous movement was not merely a fetal reflex but a divinely inspired recognition of the presence of the Messiah. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, then exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy." This powerful declaration from Elizabeth, inspired by the Holy Spirit, is the first explicit recognition of Mary's unique role as the Theotokos, the Mother of God, even before Jesus' birth. It also confirms John the Baptist's prophetic role, preparing the way for the Lord by acknowledging His presence from within the womb. This spiritual encounter underscores the profound mystery of the Incarnation and the sanctifying power of God's presence.
In response to Elizabeth's inspired words, Mary burst forth into one of the most magnificent canticles of praise in sacred Scripture, known as the Magnificat: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant." This profound prayer reveals Mary’s deep theological understanding, her humility, and her unwavering faith. It is a hymn of thanksgiving, recognizing God's mighty deeds and His faithfulness to His covenant promises. The Magnificat speaks of God's preferential option for the poor and lowly, His scattering of the proud, and His lifting up of the humble. It foreshadows the revolutionary nature of the Kingdom of God, where the established order is overturned by divine justice and mercy. This prayer has become a cornerstone of Christian liturgy, particularly in the Liturgy of the Hours, where it is recited daily during Evening Prayer (Vespers), continuing to inspire generations of believers to praise God for His wondrous works and His enduring mercy.
Mary remained with Elizabeth for about three months, staying until close to the time of John the Baptist's birth. During this period, Mary undoubtedly provided loving assistance and companionship to her elderly cousin, demonstrating her virtues of service and compassion. Her presence brought not only practical help but also a spiritual grace, as she carried within her the source of all grace, Jesus Christ. This period of shared expectation between the two women, both miraculously pregnant, speaks to the sacredness of life and the unfolding of God's salvific plan. Mary’s silent, humble service during this time further exemplifies her profound sanctity and her complete dedication to God’s will and the needs of others.
The Feast of the Visitation, traditionally celebrated on May 31st, serves as a powerful reminder of several core Christian virtues and theological truths. It highlights Mary’s active charity and humility, as she journeys to serve her cousin. It underscores the profound dignity of human life from conception, as John the Baptist, still in the womb, recognizes and rejoices in the presence of his Lord. Furthermore, it emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in revealing divine truths and inspiring prophecy, as seen in Elizabeth's inspired greeting. The Magnificat, born from this encounter, stands as a testament to Mary's faith and her prophetic vision of God's justice and mercy, making it a foundational prayer for all who seek to serve God in humility.
In the broader Christian tradition, the Visitation is not merely a historical event but a living source of spiritual reflection and inspiration. It is the second Joyful Mystery of the Rosary, inviting the faithful to meditate on Mary's charity, humility, and the joy of Christ's hidden presence. It teaches us the importance of encountering Christ in others, especially those in need, and to bring Christ to them. The feast reminds us that true joy comes from serving God and neighbor, and that God often chooses the humble and lowly to accomplish His greatest works. The Visitation continues to resonate as a testament to God's faithfulness, Mary's exemplary discipleship, and the transformative power of divine love encountering human need.
Imagine the quiet village of Nazareth, where a young woman named Mary had just received the most astonishing news imaginable: she, a virgin, would conceive the Son of God. But the angel Gabriel had also whispered another secret, a sign of God's power: her elderly cousin Elizabeth, long barren, was now in her sixth month of pregnancy. Without a moment's hesitation, Mary, though carrying the King of Kings within her, thought not of herself but of her kinswoman. Her heart, overflowing with charity and humility, compelled her to act. She knew Elizabeth, in her advanced age, would need assistance.
So, Mary embarked on a journey, not a leisurely stroll, but a formidable trek of nearly 100 miles, from the green hills of Galilee to the rugged Judean hill country, to the town where Zechariah and Elizabeth resided. Each step was a testament to her selfless love, a silent pilgrimage made for the sake of another, all while the very Creator of the universe rested within her womb. The sun beat down, the paths were dusty and winding, but Mary's spirit was light, buoyed by divine grace and the joy of imminent service.
Finally, she arrived at the humble dwelling. As Mary entered and uttered her simple greeting, a miracle unfolded. Elizabeth, heavy with child, felt a sudden, powerful movement within her. John, the prophet-to-be, though still in his mother's womb, recognized the presence of his Lord! He leaped, a profound, joyous somersault, a silent proclamation of the Messiah's arrival. At that very instant, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Her eyes, suddenly alight with divine understanding, fixed on Mary. She cried out with a loud voice, her words echoing with prophetic truth: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.”
Mary, ever humble, did not boast or take credit. Instead, her heart overflowed into a magnificent hymn of praise, the 'Magnificat.' “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.” It was a song not just of personal gratitude but of universal justice, of God’s power to cast down the mighty and lift up the lowly, to fill the hungry and send the rich away empty. For three months, Mary stayed, serving Elizabeth with quiet devotion, a living tabernacle bringing light and grace into their home. This sacred encounter, born of charity and humility, reveals Mary's profound character: a woman utterly devoted to God's will, always ready to serve, and always magnifying the Lord above herself.
1997-08-06
1. The Gospel of Luke recounts the mysterious and significant episode of the Visitation, placing it immediately after the Annunciation. Mary, having conceived the Son of God by the power of the Holy Spirit, sets out “in haste” (Lk 1:39) for a town in Judah to visit her elderly kinswoman Elizabeth, who, as the angel had told her, “in her old age has also conceived a son” (Lk 1:36). The two women, pregnant with two great secrets, meet and the fruit of their wombs meet with them. This event, so rich in meaning, is the second joyful mystery of the Rosary.
2. The scene begins with Mary's journey. Luke emphasizes the promptness of her departure: she goes “in haste”. This haste is certainly due to the charity which urges her to go to Elizabeth in order to offer her help, but it also expresses the urgency of her missionary zeal: Mary cannot keep the joy of the encounter with Christ to herself. She brings him to others. In this way, she becomes the missionary of the Messiah's presence: a mission of joy, a mission of hope.
3. The journey from Nazareth to the “hill country” of Judah (Lk 1:39) was not easy. For a young girl, it involved certain risks. But Mary faces them without hesitation, because charity is stronger than difficulties. The evangelist tells us that she entered “the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth” (Lk 1:40). At the sound of Mary's voice, Elizabeth felt the baby leap in her womb. The Spirit of God, who had filled Mary at the Annunciation, now extends his beneficial influence to Elizabeth and John, enabling them to recognize the presence of the Messiah.
4. Elizabeth is thus filled with the Holy Spirit and “exclaimed with a loud cry, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord'” (Lk 1:42-45). This is the first joyful beatitude, the beatitude of faith, which Mary receives from Elizabeth. It is a beatitude that applies to Mary personally, but also to every believer who opens his heart to God's word.
5. The meeting of the two women is also a meeting between the Old and the New Covenants. Elizabeth, representing the expectation of Israel, welcomes Mary, who brings the fulfillment of the promises. The unborn John, still in his mother's womb, leaps for joy at the arrival of Jesus, his Lord. It is a mystical encounter, a spiritual recognition, which anticipates the encounter of the Baptist with Christ at the Jordan.
6. In response to Elizabeth's inspired words, Mary bursts forth into the Magnificat (Lk 1:46-55), a hymn of praise and thanksgiving, which expresses her profound humility and faith. “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 will 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 for ever.”
7. The Magnificat is a hymn that reveals Mary's profound theological understanding and her spiritual depth. It is a song of the humble and the poor who trust in God. It expresses the joy of salvation and the triumph of God's justice. This canticle has become a fundamental part of the Church's prayer, especially in the Liturgy of the Hours, where it is recited daily at Evening Prayer.
8. The Visitation teaches us several important lessons. Firstly, it shows Mary's active charity. She does not remain absorbed in her own joy, but immediately goes to serve her kinswoman. This is an example for all of us: we are called to bring Christ to others through our service and our love. Secondly, it highlights the dignity of human life from its very beginning. John the Baptist, still in the womb, recognizes his Lord and leaps for joy. This emphasizes the sanctity of unborn life and the spiritual awareness possible even before birth. Finally, the Magnificat reminds us that God's power is revealed in humility and that He exalts the lowly and fills the hungry. It is a call to trust in God's providence and to live a life of humble service, following the example of Mary.
The daily recitation or singing of the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) during Evening Prayer (Vespers) in the Liturgy of the Hours, a central part of the Church's official prayer.
The Magnificat is the hymn of praise proclaimed by the Blessed Virgin Mary during her visit to Elizabeth, as recorded in the Gospel of Luke.
Pilgrimages to Ain Karim, a town in the Judean hills near Jerusalem, which is traditionally identified as the place where the Visitation occurred, allowing pilgrims to visit the Church of the Visitation built on the site.
Ain Karim is the traditional biblical site where Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth.
Many Catholic parishes and communities worldwide, including those in the United States, celebrate the feast day with special Masses and often local processions, particularly in churches dedicated to the Visitation of Mary.
These celebrations honor the significance of the Visitation and Mary's role in salvation history.
Families and individuals often engage in personal prayer and reflection on the Gospel account of the Visitation (Luke 1:39-56), meditating on Mary's charity, humility, and the joy of Christ's presence.
This practice helps to internalize the virtues exemplified by Mary during the Visitation and to deepen understanding of the event's theological importance.