The Visitation

Mary’s month of May draws to a close with the Feast of the Visitation. This feast celebrates the visit of Mary, pregnant with Jesus, to her cousin Elizabeth, pregnant with John the Baptist (Gospel of Saint Luke, Chapter 1 verses 39 – 56).

So this feast is a celebration of the very first Christian community, consisting of two pregnant mothers and their unborn children.

Luke’s account culminates in one of the great New Testament songs, Mary’s Magnificat, which we recite at Vespers every day:

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.

I love this song.

The Magnificat in Latin and English

To conclude this Marian month of May, Pope Francis prayed a public Rosary in the Piazza San Pietro, and he encouraged the faithful likewise to pray the Rosary.

Pray!