Next Tuesday – Feast of the Visitation

Next Tuesday, 31st May, is the Feast of the Visitation, the day when the Blessed Virgin Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth at Ein Kerem in the hills just outside Jerusalem, and the child, John the Baptist, leapt in her womb. All of this, which we recall in the Second Joyful Mystery of the Rosary, is recounted in the Gospel of Luke (1: 39-56). It’s a great day to go to Mass. With the incarnate Word now present in her womb, Mary rushed to visit Elizabeth, pregnant with the one who would later baptise Jesus. “When she reached Elizabeth’s house, an event took place that no artist could ever portray with the beauty and the intensity with which it took place. The interior light of the Holy Spirit enfolded their persons and Elizabeth, enlightened from on high, exclaimed Blessed are you among women” (Pope Benedict XVI). The visitation of the Blessed Virgin reveals that we two are the recipients of the active, eager and tender love of Jesus and Mary. On this day especially, let us pray for all expectant mothers, and for ourselves, that like Mary, through our words and deeds, we may bring to others the presence and love of Jesus Christ our Saviour.