5/31 Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

M_Visitation1

The angel Gabriel had announced to Mary that God would soon give a son to Elizabeth.  The Virgin at once b=went to Hebron, where her cousin lived:  that is the mystery of the Visitation which is solemnized on the day following the octave of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist.

On this day, as in the season of Advent, the Church traditionally recalls together the memories of the Precursor and of Jesus and Mary.  The Virgin, Mother of God, who bears and gives birth to Him who bears and produces all things, then pronounces a “sublime canticle”, the Magnificat:  

MAGNIFICAT * anima mea Dominum,
et exultavit spiritus meus * in Deo salvatore meo,
quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae. *
Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes,
MY soul doth magnify * the Lord,
and my spirit hath rejoiced * in God my Savior.
For He hath regarded the humility of His handmaiden.*
For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call
me blessed.
quia fecit mihi magna, qui potens est,*
et sanctum nomen eius,
et misericordia eius in progenies et progenies *
timentibus eum.
For He that is mighty hath done great things to me, *
and holy is His Name.
And His Mercy is from generation unto generations *
upon them that fear Him.
Fecit potentiam in brachio suo, *
dispersit superbos mente cordi sui;
deposuit potentes de sede *
et exaltavit humiles;
esurientes implevit bonis *
et divites dimisit inanes.
He hath shewed 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.
Suscepit Israel puerum suum, *
recordatus misericordiae,
sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, *
Abraham et semini eius in saecula.
He hath received Israel, His servant, *
being mindful of His mercy.
As He spoke to our Fathers, *
Abraham and his seed forever.