Blessed Among Women

Rosary Mysteries for the Feast of the Visitation:
1. The Annunciation to Zechariah (Luke 1:5-25)
2. The Annunciation to Mary (Luke 1:26-38)
3. The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56)
4. The Birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:57-66)
5. The Birth of Jesus Christ (Luke 2:1-21)

The Visitation

The Story of the Visitation:

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Mary’s Song

46 And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

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In choosing the special set of Rosary Mysteries for the Feast of the Visitation, the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth holds central place. In the lives and the bodies of these two women is the turning of the ages. And we see the two great men of the Gospel story, John and Jesus, in complete humility and helplessness as unborn children. Here the workings of God are not through important men, but through important women. The ageing Elizabeth is emblematic of the Ancient Truth of God, the young Mary proclaims that God’s Truth is new every morning. In this marvelous story, the old does not give way to the new – rather, the Old and the New exist together, side by side, in the embrace of these two women. Elizabeth and Mary are the mothers and priests of the flowering of Salvation History.

A Blessed Visitation to All,
~ Fr. Will, ObJN