from Saint Ambrose
It is only right that all who ask us to believe in them should give us ground for our belief. And so the Angel, when he announced his mystic message to the Virgin Mary, gave as a proof of what he said the example of how an older and a barren woman had conceived, to show that whatever is pleasing to God is possible to Him. When Mary heard this, she was not incredulous of the oracle, nor uncertain as to the messenger, nor in doubt as to the example given her; but joyful because of her desire, and religious in the duty she was doing, she went into the hill-country, hastening for very joy. For whither should she go, full of God as she was, but to the hills, and that with haste? The grace of the Holy Ghost knoweth nought of tardy accomplishment.
Mary, who had hitherto lived all alone in the privacy of home, was not deterred by her virginal shyness from appearing in public; nor did the rough mountain ways affright her; nor did the length of the journey retard her in the fulfillment of her duty. The Maiden left her home and went into the hill-country with haste, mindful of her office, and not caring about the trouble, urged by her affection to that from which her maidenhood would have excused her. Learn, ye maidens, not to run about between houses other than your own, not to loiter in the streets, not to fall into speech with others in public places. Mary, loth to leave her home, hastens on her way once she has left it; and she remains with her cousin three months.
Maidens! you have learnt a lesson from the modesty of Mary, learn a lesson also from her humility. She came, as one relation comes to another, and as the younger comes to the elder; and not only did she come, but in her salutation also was she first. For the purer a maiden is, the humbler also ought she to be. She will know how to defer to her elders. Let her who professes chastity be a mistress in humility. This is the source of piety, and the rule of its teaching. For here, as we must see, the superior comes to the inferior, that the inferior may be helped - Mary comes to Elizabeth, Christ to John.
Let us pray
Grant, O Lord! we beseech Thee, unto Thy servants, the gift of heavenly grace, that as the Child-bearing of the Blessed Virgin was unto them the beginning of salvation, so the solemn commemoration of her Visitation may bring them an increase of peace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
Magnificat
My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid; 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 generation unto generations, to them that fear Him. He hath showed 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 to His seed, for ever. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Salve Regina!
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy! Hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn, then, most gracious Advocate! thine eyes of mercy towards us, and, after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God! That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Petition
We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God! despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin!
- from The May-Book of the Breviary, by Father John Fitzpatrick