Visitation of the Blessed Virgin

On May 31, Catholics will celebrate the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1389, when the Church was suffering internal conflict known as the Western Schism, Pope Urban VI established the feast day as a way of asking the universal church to pray to the Virgin Mary for unity and peace.

It originated in Byzantium when, on July 2, the Gospel of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth was read on the Feast of the “Deposition in the Basilica of the Holy Garment of the Theotokos.” The Franciscans adopted the Marian feast day in 1263, calling it the Visitation of Mary. After the liturgical reform of Vatican II, the date of the feast was fixed on May 31, at the end of the month dedicated to Mary.

The inspiration of the feast comes from the story in the first chapter of Luke:“Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town in 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, ‘Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb,’ ” (Lk 1:39-42).

“Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”
Lk 1:39-42

Mary went hastily to greet her cousin, Elizabeth, based on an interior impulse. According to vaticannews.va, there are several possible reasons that drove Mary to make the journey. She may have wanted to be of service to Elizabeth, who was expecting a baby at an advanced age. Or she may have wanted to share her own news, knowing she would be more easily understood by another woman who had been visited by an angel. Or perhaps it was simply a holy desire to go and see the sign the angel had given her.

“And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible with God,” (Lk 1:36-37).

After all, even the shepherds went in haste to see the sign that the angels had announced to them on Christmas night.

The Visitation also connects  the two annunciations of Mary and Elizabeth – two women and two promises. As soon as Elizabeth hears Mary’s greeting, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb begins to “dance.” Immediately after her exchange with Elizabeth, Mary sings her Magnificat:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name” (Lk 1:46-49).