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FEAST OF THE VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY ( July 2nd )

Mary went into the hill country with haste. (Luke I, 39.)

CONSIDER FIRSTLY that Mary started from Nazareth to go to the city of Hebron, a distance of some seventy miles. This would mean a seven days’ journey, at least, over rough hills and in no other company than that of Joseph her spouse. The holy Virgin hastened her steps, as St. Luke tells us: she went into the hill country with haste.

APPLICATION:Tell us O holy Virgin, why thou didst undertake that long and difficult journey, and why thou didst journey in such haste? I went (she would answer) to fulfil my duty of charity. I went to give comfort to a family. So then, O great Mother of God, your duty and your office is to console and to dispense graces to souls. Oh, come to visit and console my soul also. Your visit sanctified the house of Elizabeth. Come, O Mary, and sanctify me also. 

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS. Say to my soul: I am thy salvation. (Ps. xxxiv, 3.)

CONSIDER SECONDLY that when the Blessed Virgin arrived at the house of Elizabeth, although she had already become the Mother of God, yet she is the first to salute her relative: She entered and saluted Elizabeth. Elizabeth enlightened by God, knew that the Divine Word was already become man as the Son of Mary. Hence she called her blessed among women. She extolled that divine fruit that was in her womb: Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Full alike of joy and of confusion she exclaimed: And whence is this to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to visit me? How could I hope for such grace as this, that the Mother of God should come unto me? But to these words what did the humble Mary answer? She said: My soul doth magnify the Lord, as if to say: Ah, Elizabeth, you indeed praise me, but I rather praise my God for having willed to exalt me and to destine me, poor servant, to be His Mother: He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid.

APPLICATION: O most holy Mary, as you dispense so many graces to those who ask them, I beg you to give me some of your humility. You thought yourself to be nothing before God, but I am less than nothing, because I am nothing and a sinner too at one and the same time. You can make me humble. Make me so, for the love of that God Who made you His Mother.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS. We are filled in the morning with thy mercy, we have rejoiced for the days in which thou hast humbled us. (Ps. lxxxix, 14, 15.)

CONSIDER THIRDLY what occurred at the first sound of the voice of Mary as she saluted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. (Luke I, 41.) The infant John the Baptist exulted with gladness because of the divine grace given to him before his birth; Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit; and Zachary, father of the Baptist, was presently consoled by the recovery of his speech.

APPLICATION: Thus it is most true, O my Queen and Mother, that divine graces are dispensed through thee and souls are sanctified. Do not then, my most beloved Lady, forget me, thy poor servant, who love thee, and in thee have placed all my hope. Thy prayers are all answered by that God Who so loves thee. Make haste then and pray for me, my Mother, and make me good and holy.  

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS. The Most High hath sanctified his own tabernacle. God is in the midst thereof, it shall not be moved. (Ps. xlv, 5, 6.)

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