Lessons from The Visitation

A Reading from the Gospel according to Luke

     Mary set out
     and traveled to the hill country in haste
     to a town of Judah,
     where she entered the house of Zechariah
     and greeted Elizabeth.
     When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
     the infant leaped in her womb,
     and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
     cried out in a loud voice and said,
     “Blessed are you among women,
     and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
     And how does this happen to me,
     that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
     For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
     the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
     Blessed are you who believed
     that what was spoken to you by the Lord
     would be fulfilled.”
     And Mary said:
    “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
        my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
        for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
    From this day all generations will call me blessed:
        the Almighty has done great things for me
        and holy is his Name.
    He has mercy on those who fear him
        in every generation.
    He has shown the strength of his arm,
        and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
    He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
        and has lifted up the lowly.
    He has filled the hungry with good things,
        and the rich he has sent away empty.
    He has come to the help of his servant Israel
        for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
        the promise he made to our fathers,
        to Abraham and his children forever.”
     Mary remained with her about three months
     and then returned to her home.


     Over the past three years, The Visitation has become a place of comfort nestled in the pages of my Bible. It’s been one I’ve returned to time and time again for inspiration and consolation, encompassing everything that makes my heart swell: reunion, authentic relationship, surrender to Christ and unbridled joy. 

     You would think after reading about my devotion to The Visitation it would be easy to write a reflection about it, but when putting pen to paper (or finger to keyboard in this case), I had no idea where I wanted to begin.

     I have so many experiences and memories associated with this Bible passage, and each of them are so meaningful and tender to me. To share any poorly would be a disservice to them, but to not share them at all would be just as much a disservice. As I prayed with what the Lord wanted me to share in this reflection, I began to realize that it is in these experiences that I learned some of the most important lessons of my life.

Fiats Produce Fruit

     In Latin, “fiat” means “let it be done unto me.” Mary famously pronounces her fiat when the angel Gabriel appeared to her at the Annunciation, but I think it is also forgotten that Elizabeth also declared a fiat, not necessarily in her words, but in her devotion to God.

     Mary was a young girl from Nazareth, and Elizabeth was a barren woman advanced in age - both unassuming and of modest stature. Yet, it was from their fiats and humility that great and abundant fruit poured forth through their sons - St. John the Baptist and Jesus, the Messiah. 

     It is in the most barren of places that God likes to work miracles. Sometimes all we need to do is give Him our fiat.

Respond to the Lord’s Promptings

     During The Annunciation, Gabriel tells Mary about her cousin Elizabeth’s miraculous pregnancy, and in response to this, Mary travels in haste to the hill country of Judah. Mary makes this long and bumpy journey during her first trimester, through hills and rough terrain. Why? Because she responded to the Lord’s promptings.

     Psalm 37:23-24 says, “The valiant one whose steps are guided by the Lord, who will delight in His way, may stumble, but he will never fall, for the Lord holds his hand.” Though the decision might have seemed unsensible, Mary trusted the Lord and believed He would guide her steps. She placed all her trust in Him, and in return was greeted with an encounter that further convicted her mission.

     It is in our trust in the Lord that we truly can respond to His promptings with confidence, knowing He guides our steps.

Open to Receive 

     One of the things I love most about Elizabeth is her ability to receive Mary into her home in such a beautiful way. Elizabeth was far along in her pregnancy, and I can only imagine the irritability, stress and exhaustion that resulted from this. Yet Elizabeth welcomed Mary into her home and allowed her a space to belong and find rest. Elizabeth’s openness created a shelter only she could provide, even when the conditions were not ideal.

     It is in being open to receive others that our hearts can become shelters for their souls to unfold. (Paraphrasing from one of my absolute favorite saints, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross - Edith Stein)

Share Your Joy

     2 Samuel 6:14 tells of King David dancing before the Arc of the Covenant “with abandon,” and in 2012, Pope Benedict XVI made a connection from this verse to this upcoming Sunday’s Gospel: “Mary, expecting the birth of her Son Jesus, is the Holy Ark that contains the presence of God, a presence that is a source of consolation, of total joy. John, in fact, leaps in Elizabeth’s womb, just as David danced before the Ark.” The joy of being in the presence of the Lord cannot be contained, and this joy should never be stifled. 

     It is in John’s leaping in his mother’s womb that provokes Elizabeth to proclaim the goodness of the Lord and Mary’s blessings, and it is in Elizabeth’s proclamation that Mary utters her Magnificat that we still pray today. Because one shared their joy, all experienced the fullness of this joy. 

     It is in being joyful that we can share the Good News with joy. 

     I pray that these lessons can help you in entering closer to Our Lady and the joy of the Visitation this upcoming week, allowing you to better recognize how the Lord is working in your life and calling you to share this good news with others. 

About the Author: Nicole Jones is the Coordinator of Youth and Young Adult Ministry (Red Stick Catholics) at the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Nicole grew up in Baton Rouge and started getting involved with ministry after experiencing a deep conversion of heart at a high school bible study at Our Lady of Mercy parish. During her time as a mass communication student at LSU, Nicole became more involved with Christ the King Catholic Church and Student Center. It was there that she felt the Lord tugging on her heart to dive deeper into ministry and apply for her current position at the Diocese. When Nicole isn’t working, she can be found spending time with her dog, Indy, and baking the world’s best chocolate chip cookies. 

Learn More About Red Stick Catholics

The Well is a weekly reflection series from Red Stick Catholics that was created to allow young adults from the Diocese of Baton Rouge to reveal how God is speaking to them through prayer and Scripture. Each reflection contains the upcoming Sunday’s Gospel, a reflection written by a young adult from the Diocese of Baton Rouge and prompts for how to pray with the Gospel and reflection during the week. If you are interested in writing a reflection, please email Nicole at [email protected] .