I love this celebration which always makes me meditate on the beauty of one good friend going to help another, carrying Christ with her to someone she loves. I also really love this icon below, which celebrates the unseen reality of this feast.
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| The Visitation of Virgin Mary to Elizabeth. The photographer says: "14th century wall-painting in the Timios Stavros Church in Pelendri. The unborn John the Baptist bows before the unborn Jesus. ..." |
Today we learn once more that each encounter with Mary implies a new discovery of Jesus: If you seek Mary, you will find Jesus. And you will learn a bit more about what is in the heart of a God who humbles himself, who makes himself accessible in the midst of the routine of ordinary life. God's great gift to mankind whereby we can get to know and love Christ, had its beginning in Mary's faith, whose perfect fulfillment Elizabeth now openly reveals: The fullness of grace announced by the angel means the gift of God himself. Mary's faith, proclaimed by Elizabeth at the Visitation, indicates how the Virgin of Nazareth responded to this gift. The Virgin Mary, who had already pronounced her complete and unconditional fiat, presents herself at the threshold of Zachary's house as the Mother of the Son of God. This is Elizabeth's joyful discovery, *** and ours too; it is one we can never get used to.* J. Escriva, Christ is Passing By
In Conversation with God:
Special Feasts: January - June
** John Paul II, Redemptoris Mater
*** cf ibid
