The Visitation of the Virgin Mary to Elisabeth is celebrated by Catholics on May 31, and by the Orthodox on March 30. This commemorates the visit of , pregnant, to her already-elderly cousin, who was also expecting a baby: . It was on this occasion that Marie spoke her famous .
“My soul glorifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.”
Going beyond the story of the Visitation in the Bible, this Marian feast opens up deep axes of meditation on different dimensions of our lives as Christians.
This episode of Mary's life is reported to us in : (Luke 1:39 -56) ().
It takes place after the, during which the angel Gabriel comes to announce to Mary that she will give birth to the Son of God, and before , the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.
It is therefore one of the few moments recounted in the Bible that precedes the birth of Jesus and his public life. It allows us to better understand who Mary is and how she can be a guide for any Christian.
“Mary, through the mystery of the Annunciation and the Visitation, represents the very model of the life we should lead. First, she welcomed Jesus into her existence; then, what she had received, she shared.” ()
This bible story is a highlight on different levels.
The feast of the Visitation appeared in the 13th century among the Franciscans. It was established by Saint Bonaventure.
This meeting between Mary and Elizabeth was celebrated at different times of the year: first during Advent, then in July, and finally its date was changed to the month of May, Mary's month.
The liturgy of the day includes the passage in the Gospel of Luke, as well as an excerpt from the book of Zephaniah (Zephaniah 3:14-18), and a hymn from the book of Isaiah. These three texts spread via the hope, joy, and relief they evoke.
This excerpt from the Bible and the exchange between Elizabeth and her cousin are at the origin of the two greatest Marian prayers:
The Visitation is also one of the of the , a Marian prayer recited from a .
Mary, humble servant of the Lord through whom the Savior of the world came, shows us the way. To learn her charity, humility and joy, discover different offerings online: