Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Information about the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary [1]

“The Visitation”
by Tintoretto, 1588

Readings for the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]

Readings and Commentary:[3]

Reading 1: Zephaniah 3:14-18a

Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!
Sing joyfully, O Israel!
Be glad and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
The LORD has removed the judgment against you,
he has turned away your enemies;
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst,
you have no further misfortune to fear.
On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!
The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
He will sing joyfully because of you,
as one sings at festivals.
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Commentary on Zep 3:14-18a

The Prophet Zephaniah begins this passage with an exaltation of praise to God. His invitation sounds in the present tense, but then he says: “On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem,” which places the event, the rejoicing over the Lord God being in their midst, in the future. In effect, this is a prediction of events to come. Zephaniah also includes the effects of God’s presence as he continues: “a mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love.”
 
We hear the expectation of the Messiah: “The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst.” In this case the effects of the Messiah on the people are the focus. The prophet proclaims a renewal of God's loving adoption and the joy felt by the Father at his favorite creation.
 
CCC: Zep 3:14 722, 2676; Zep 3:17a 2676; Zep 3:17b 2676
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Or: Romans 12:9-16

Brothers and sisters: Let love be sincere;
hate what is evil,
hold on to what is good;
love one another with mutual affection;
anticipate one another in showing honor.
Do not grow slack in zeal,
be fervent in spirit,
serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope,
endure in affliction,
persevere in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the holy ones,
exercise hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you,
bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice,
weep with those who weep.
Have the same regard for one another,
do not be haughty but associate with the lowly;
do not be wise in your own estimation.
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Commentary on Rom 12:9-16

St. Paul gives a litany of instructions to those who wish to remain faithful to Christ’s teachings. He is speaking to a community that is one in faith in Christ. He tells the community that, in their union, the gifts of each must serve the needs of all, and these gifts need to be exercised. In this selection the evangelist gives a litany of exhortations to live the love of Christ, following his command to love one another sincerely, and to forgive those who persecute them.
 
CCC: Rom 12-15 1454, 1971; Rom 12:9-13 1971; Rom 12:11 2039; Rom 12:12 1820; Rom 12:14 1669, 2636
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Responsorial Psalm: Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6

R. (6) Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
R. Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
R. Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
R. Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
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Commentary on Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6

This hymn of praise is a profession of faith: “My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior.” It also does something interesting in that it challenges those who profess their faith in the Lord to proclaim it in the world: “among the nations make known his deeds, proclaim how exalted is his name.”
 
This canticle emphasizes the peace and confidence found in his servant, enjoying the salvation of God. He sings his praise to God and exhorts all of Israel to praise him as they see his constant presence among them in the blessings they receive.
 
CCC: Is 12:3 2561
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Gospel: Luke 1:39-56

Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
"Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled."
And Mary said:
"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.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever."
Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.
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Commentary on Lk 1:39-56

The Gospel selection from St. Luke gives us the story of Mary’s journey from Nazareth, over the mountains to Hebron, south of Jerusalem, to visit her cousin St. Elizabeth, who was also with child. St. Elizabeth’s greeting gives us substance for the “Hail Mary,” and Mary’s response is the great Canticle of Mary, which exemplifies her faith and faithfulness appropriate for the Mother of Jesus, who is the Christ.
 
Mary’s meeting with Elizabeth follows the annunciation by Gabriel that she would carry the Son of God, which proclaims the coming of the Lord, and the faith of Mary before the nativity event. We note that Elizabeth is first to identify Jesus as Lord as she says: “how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” She not only professes the identity of the infant, but foreshadows Mary’s leadership standing, elevating the stature of her much younger cousin with reverence. Elizabeth continues her praise of Mary by establishing that her (Mary’s) faith had allowed her to accept even the incredible role God had offered her.
 
In response we hear Mary’s humility as she gives us the Magnificat: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” This opening phrase establishes that the Blessed Mother gives herself to God eternally (her eternal self or soul) and completely (the very core of her being or spirit). What follows in her great song is an abject expression of faith in the Father’s omnipotence, and her own humility and awe in the face of his request of her to carry God’s only Son.
 
CCC: Lk 1:41 523, 717, 2676; Lk 1:43 448, 495, 2677; Lk 1:45 148, 2676; Lk 1:46-55 722, 2619, 2675; Lk 1:46-49 2097; Lk 1:48 148, 971, 2676, 2676; Lk 1:49 273, 2599, 2807, 2827; Lk 1:50 2465; Lk 1:54-55 706; Lk 1:55 422
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Reflection:

As sometimes happens when we reflect upon the Visitation, we consider the event in broad or general terms. Mary, the vessel of Jesus, visits St. Elizabeth, the vessel of St. John the Baptist. The mothers greet each other, but only after the Lord and St. John have already communed in spirit: St. John “leaped for joy” in the presence of the Lord, communicating his own exultation to his mother.

We see the reaction in St. Elizabeth when she greets Mary, already knowing the identity of the child her cousin carries. St. Elizabeth clearly recognizes the holiness of Mary. This is remarkable when we consider that St. Elizabeth is far older than her young cousin. We were told that she was barren: “And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived  a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren,” (Luke 1:36) when Mary received the news of her own conception from the Archangel Gabriel. Yet, her cousin not only defers to her, but offers her worshipful praise: “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”

This meeting, as we look back upon it, is much more than an encounter between faith-filled women; rather it is the Messiah, the Only Begotten Son of God, being introduced to the world represented by St. John the Baptist, and secondarily to his mother St. Elizabeth. It is for this reason we celebrate this event in solemn worship. It is, in essence, our first meeting with the Incarnation.

Our joy in this meeting is echoed by St. Elizabeth who gives us the words of the Hail Mary in her salutation. It is a reminder, not only of the Blessed Virgin’s own faith in God and acceptance of his will, but our own need to thank St. Mary for her obedience, St. Elizabeth for her understanding, and St. John for his recognition of this wondrous event.

Today we pray that our faith may be as perceptive as St. Elizabeth’s in recognizing Christ in our brothers and sisters, and that St. Mary’s unwavering obedience to God might give us courage to obey him as well.

Pax

In other years on this date: Monday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

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[1] The image used today is “The Visitation” by Tintoretto, 1588.
[2] S.S. Commemoratio
[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.