Luke 1:39-56Luke 1:39-56
And blessed Mary rose and went her way
To Judah, mid whose verdant hills there lay,
The home of Zacharias, there to greet
With rev rent salutation, and repeat
To Saint Elizabeth her secret strange and sweet.
- Guild of the Holy Cross
After the angel left her, Mary hastened to visit her cousin. And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Vlary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost, and she cried out with a loud voice and said: "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord." And Mary said: "My soul doth magnify the Lord; and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Because He hath regarded the humility of His hand maid: For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because He that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is His name. And His mercy is from genera tion unto generations, to them that fear Him. He hath shown might in His arm: He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away. He hath received Israel His servant, being mindful of His mercy. As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed forever."
Mary remained about three months with Elizabeth; after which she returned to her own humble home at Nazareth, where she gave herself up to prayer, and the duties of her house.
The Revelation to Saint Joseph
Matthew 1:18-25
When Joseph discovered the condition of his wife Mary, he was very much troubled, and, not understanding the deep mystery that surrounded her, resolved to put her away secretly. Whilst he was thus debating the matter with himself, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in sleep and told him to fear not, for Mary had become a mother by the overshadowing power of God; and, moreover, the angel bade him call the child that would be born of her, Jesus - that is to say, Saviour. Joseph did as he was commanded.
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Whither thus, in holy rapture
Royal Maiden, art Thou bent!
Why so fleetly art Thou speeding
Up the mountain's rough ascent?
Fill d with the eternal Godhead!
Glowing with the Spirit's flame!
Love it is that bears Thee onward,
And supports thy tender flame.
Lo! thine aged cousin claims Thee,
Claims thy sympathy and care;
God her shame from her hath taken;
He hath heard her fervent prayer.
Blessed Mothers! joyful meeting!
Thou in her, the hand of God,
She in Thee, with lips inspired,
Owns the Mother of her Lord.
Honor, glory, virtue, merit,
Be to Thee, O Virgin, Son!
With the Father and the Spirit
While eternal ages run.
- Father Edward Caswall
- text taken from Heaven's Bright Queen, by William James Walsh