We end the month of May with the Marian feast of the Pilgrimage of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Namely, we celebrate the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth… the feast that St. informs us about. Luke, the evangelist (Lk 1, 39-56), and we also mention him in the second Mystery of the Joy of the Holy Rosary.
Almost two months after the Annunciation, we remember the Visitation to Elizabeth, whom the Most High Lord blessed with a child in her old age.
Namely, Elizabeth and her husband Zaharija had a son Ivan, who baptized Jesus in the Jordan River, and ended his life as a martyr.
And while Mary was leaving Nazareth to visit the village of Ein Karem, not far from Jerusalem, the journey was almost one hundred and forty-nine kilometers long, which required about five days of walking.
Seeing and hearing Maria, the child in Elizabeth’s womb started playing. It was the first meeting between Jesus and John the Baptist. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth clicked: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Lk 1, 42). That invocation of Elizabeth becomes an integral part of the Hail Mary prayer.
Mary will then sing a hymn of praise to the Lord out of happiness, for entrusting her with the responsible task of being the Mother of God. The hymn begins: “My soul glorifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior, because He looks at the insignificance of his servants: from now on, behold, all generations will call me blessed.” (Lk 1, 46-48).
After staying like that for about three months with her cousin Elizabeth, Maria will then return home, but before the birth of John the Baptist.
The Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary was mentioned for the first time in 1263… whose celebration was recommended by St. Bonaventura. However, today we celebrate it at the request of Pope Paul VI. since 1969.
PRAYER
Almighty eternal God, You inspired the Blessed Virgin Mary, while she was carrying Your Son, to visit Elizabeth. Let us be obedient to the promptings of Your Spirit, and with the all-pervading Virgin we glorify You. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.
Sources:
- http://zupajastrebarsko.hr/
- Holy Choir for Divine Worship (1997); Chronology of the Roman Rite, Kršćanska sadašnjost, Zagreb