This Saturday, May 31, is the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As part of the Annunciation that she was to bring into the world the Son of God and the Savior of the world, Gabriel revealed to Mary that her cousin, Elizabeth, was pregnant with a child in her old age. Sometime later, she went to Elizabeth to be with her. Elizabeth greeted her with the words that we know as the second phrase of the Hail Mary. “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” The child within her womb, John the Baptist, had leapt for joy to be in the presence of the Son of God.

Mary then proclaims her Magnificat, that great hymn celebrating the saving actions of God and the reversal of fortunes that this child would bring about. She stayed with Elizabeth for three months and then returned home.