My dear parishioners,
Peace! The Catechism of the Catholic Church highlights the “prayer of the rosary” as a popular substitute for the Liturgy of the Hours in the Western Church (§ 2678). In praying the rosary we “meditate on the mysteries of Christ” engaging our “thought, imagination, emotion, and desire” leading not only to “knowledge of the love of the Lord Jesus” but “union with Him” (§ 2708). In fact the rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary is an “epitome of the whole Gospel” and is also an expression of “devotion to the Virgin Mary” (§ 971). Here we consider the second of Joyful Mysteries, the Visitation.
The liturgical Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is observed on the Church’s current calendar each year on 31 May, before the birthday of Saint John the Baptist 24 June. The fruit of the mystery is love of neighbor, fraternal charity. In Sacred Scripture we read about the Visitation in Luke 1:39-57. The present day town of Ein Karem has a church built to commemorate the event, at the house of Elizabeth and Zechariah, where Saint John the Baptist is said to have been born.
That Mary and Elizabeth were relatives (cf. Luke 1:36) should remind us that “charity begins at home” or as Scripture puts it: “do good unto all, especially them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). Based on the relationship between Mary and Elizabeth, Jesus and John the Baptist are often said to have been cousins.
The Visitation provides us with the second third of the Hail Mary: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” The third third of the Hail Mary is provided by Mother Church specifing that Jesus is the fruit of Mary’s Immaculate womb.
In response to the greeting of Saint Elizabeth, the Blessed Mother pronounced her Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). At the church in Ein Karem the Magnificat is emblazoned on the walls in the many various languages of the world. Mother Church uses Mary’s Magnificat each evening at Vespers in the Liturgy of the Hours. As children of Mother Church and Mary the Mother of God we too are to proclaim the greatness of the Lord and rejoice in God our Savior. Do we recognize the great things the Almighty has done for us? Do we honor and revere His Holy Name? Do we recognize that the Lord fills us who hunger for Him with the Eucharist and other graces? Our devotion to Our Lady is a fulfillment of the Magnificat: “All generations will call me blessed.” How devoted to Mary are we? Do we pray her rosary? Do we venerate images of her? Do we celebrate her feasts? While some sadly object to devotion to Mary as somehow detracting from our devotion to Christ the Lord, we are aware of Mary’s instruction at Cana: “Do whatever He tells you!” (John 2:5). These are still her instructions for us today.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr