The Visitation

Luke 1:39-49

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country,
40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit
42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?
44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy.
45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be* a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’

Mary’s Song of Praise

46 And Mary* said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
48 for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

Today is the Feast of The Visitation. I love the story of The Visitation. I love how Mary after hearing her own good news and the good news of her cousin Elizabeth from the Angel Gabriel hurried to her cousin who was soon to be the mother of John the Baptist. Mary was rushing to be with the one person she knew would understand the vast emotions and passions she carried in her heart and which could not be contained, Mary ran to the one person she could share all these feelings with, and I find it so touching that both women were rejoicing in their approaching motherhood together. At Mary’s greeting Elizabeth’s baby leaps for joy and Elizabeth gives Mary the beautiful title of “Mother of my Lord” and she also praises Mary for her faith in God.
Mary then gives thanks and praise to God in a beautiful, soulful prayer.

It is so touching and so awe-inspiring to me to think that these two plain, simple, ordinary women were not only honored to know of God’s Great Plan for man’s Salvation at the introduction of His Plan, but they were also honored to have major roles in God’s Plan.

I also love the many depictions of this joyous event:







The picture at the top of this post is from my St. Joseph Daily Missal, and that picture along with the picture below are my most favorites.


Today is also my brother-in-law Donald's birthday and I want to make sure to wish him the best! I've posted about Donald before (one of my earliest posts "Lenten Sacrifices", and my 'tribute' to him "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?", I've posted a Friday Favorite of just a few of the things he's made for us, and of course my post about Donald thinking women should remain silent!). And I'm sure I'll be posting more about him in the future, so you'll get to know well the conundrum that is Donald!


Happy Birthday, Donald!
With Love and Prayers from your 'sister', Eileen