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The Visitation of Mary
Feast Day May 31
Let us ask Mary, who carried
the unborn Jesus to the home of Elizabeth, to also bring the Christ Child into our
homes and our hearts, and to the homes and hearts of those prodigals we love so
much. Let us ask her to place her mantle of protection over all our
children and grandchildren, relatives and friends, from the moment of their
conception to their last breath here on Earth. |
What
is the Feast of the Visitation?
The Visitation commemorates Mary's visit to her
cousin Elizabeth to help her during her time of confinement while she was
waiting for the birth of John the Baptist. In Scripture, the meeting of these
women meeting for the basis for two great prayers of the Church--the Hail Mary
and the Magnificat.
The feast itself was established sometime during the
13rh-14th century to pray for unity. The current May 31
date was set in 1969 to follow the Annunciation of the Lord on March 25 and come
before the Birthday of John the Baptist on June 24.
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The
Visitation in Scripture
Luke 1:39-56
In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of
Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when
Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth
was filled with the Holy Spirit and she 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 babe 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.
And Mary said,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 forever.”
And Mary remained with her about three months, and
returned to her home. |