The birth of Christ is without regard to man;
the birth of John the Baptist is without regard to age!
"Nothing is impossible with God."
The Scripture continues the story: In the days that followed, Mary rose up and went with all haste to a city of Juda, in the hill country where Zachary dwelt; and entering in she gave Elizabeth greeting. No sooner had Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, than the child leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Ghost; so that she cried out with a loud voice, "Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. How have I deserved to be thus visited by the mother of my Lord? Why, as soon as ever the voice of thy greeting sounded in my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed art thou for thy believing; the message that was brought to thee from the Lord shall have fulfillment" (Lk 1:39-45).
Mary "went with all haste"; she is always in a hurry to do good. With deliberate speed she becomes the first nurse of Christian civilization. The woman hastens to meet a woman. They serve best their neighbor who bear the Christ within their hearts and souls
Archbishop Fulton Sheen (The World’s First Love: Mary, Mother of God)
THE VISITATION
A meditation on the Second Joyful Mystery
The Joy of Trust “Blessed is she (Mary) who trusted that the Lord's words to her would be fulfilled. " (Lk 1 :45) At the Visitation, Mary is called 'Blessed' by Elizabeth because of her perfect trust in God. Perfect trust is based not on ourselves but on the infinite perfections of God who is infinite mercy, infinite justice, infinite goodness, infinite compassion, infinite power, and infinite love.
Mary reached out to Elizabeth in her time of need, now Mary reaches out to us with Her divine Son, Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. This is the joy of the Visitation mystery: “In the tender compassion of our God" He continues to visit us the Holy Eucharist that we may come to Him with confidence.
As John the Baptist recognized Jesus hidden in the womb of Mary, the first tabernacle of the Lord, so now we recognize Jesus hidden in the Blessed Sacrament, The Mystery of our faith. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and John leaped for joy in His presence then, as we rejoice in His presence now for here Jesus pours out His Spirit upon us in this Sacrament of infinite love.
Fr. Martin Lucia
The Mystery of the Visitation
From the moment when Mary conceived the Son of God, filled with the Holy Spirit, wherever she went, there is also the presence of Jesus and the Spirit. Just look at what Elizabeth immediately experienced as soon as her very young cousin set foot in her house and greeted her. I have no idea of the timbre of Mary's voice, but I know well the efficacy of her presence. And this is not the only first for Elizabeth who had had many others: she is the first who, in the presence of Mary, is filled with the Holy Spirit; she is the first to exalt Mary on account of her maternity: "Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb!".
Elizabeth is the first to recognize in Mary the Mother of God, calling her "the mother of my Lord"; she is the first to announce an evangelical beatitude: "Blessed is she who has believed." … About Mary – She is the true and enduring Ark of the Covenant, that is, the dwelling place of God; actually she is more, because it is she from whom God assumed our human nature to live in our midst as our brother.
To welcome Mary is the way to receive Jesus and the Holy Spirit. 'The first beatitude of the Gospel, "Blessed is she who has believed" is the beatitude of faith; to it corresponds well the last beatitude proclaimed by the risen Christ to Thomas: "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed!" (Jn 20: 29).
Mary is the model of those who believe without having first seen. About us – Perhaps we have not yet understood who Mary is; the various firsts of Elizabeth are our help and guide. To delude ourselves into thinking we can have Jesus and the Holy Spirit without going through Mary is not in conformity with the way established by God. Faith, not sensibility, tells us that salvation begins by welcoming Mary.
FATHER GABRIELE AMORTH
MARY AND FRATERNAL CHARITY
PRESENCE OF GOD – 0 Mother, whose love for man was so great, teach me how to fulfill, in all its perfection, the precept of fraternal charity.
MEDITATION- Charity is one in its essence because of the oneness of its object: God loved in Himself, God loved in the neighbor. Hence, the more a soul loves God, so much the more does it love its neighbor. Now if charity toward God reached its peak in Mary, we must also say that her charity toward her neighbor was boundless.
This is the peculiar quality of true love of God; far from narrowing the soul of one who possesses it, charity dilates the soul that it may pour out on others the wealth it has accumulated. Such was the characteristic of Mary's charity. Although she was completely filled with the love of God, wholly recollected in the contemplation of the divine mysteries which were taking place in and around her, her recollection did not hinder her from giving attention to her neighbor; on the contrary, we see her always gracious and attentive to the needs of others.
Furthermore, her own interior wealth urged her to desire to share with others the great treasures which she possessed. This is the attitude described in the Gospel, when, immediately after the Annunciation, she undertook a journey " in haste," as St. Luke says, to visit Elizabeth. It would have been very pleasant for her to remain at Nazareth, adoring in solitude and silence the divine Word incarnate in her womb, but the Angel had told her of the imminent maternity of her aged cousin; this was enough for her to feel obliged to go to Elizabeth and offer her humble services.
We can say, therefore, that Mary's first act after. becoming the Mother of God was an act of charity toward her neighbor. God gave Himself to her as a Son, and Mary, who gave herself to Him as His" handmaid," wished also to give herself as the "handmaid" of others. The close union which exists between charity toward God and charity toward the neighbor is singularly evident here: of charity toward Elizabeth is in perfect accord with the act of sublime love in which Mary gave herself wholly God when she pronounced her fiat.
PRAYER-It is true, 0 Mary, that on the day of my baptism the Holy Spirit diffused His charity in me; but my self-love has halted its growth, and I, who have so little love for my God, have likewise very little love for my neighbor. 0 most loving Mother, see how I need to have my heart dilated with charity! Stir up, then, and nourish that virtue in me and grant that, having given myself to the service of God, I may also give myself to that of my neighbor, with kindness and humility, promptness and generosity.
Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalene OCD
My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden,
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm:
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy;
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His posterity forever.
