Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Visitation. After the Annunciation, the Virgin Mary journeyed to the home of her cousin Elizabeth, the mother of the Precursor. “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” — exclaimed Elizabeth in reply to Mary’s greeting. On this occasion, the sanctification of St. John the Baptist took place.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Zep 3:14-18a
Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The LORD has removed the judgment against you, he has turned away your enemies; The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear. On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, He will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals.
Or – Rom 12:9-16
Brothers and sisters: Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly; do not be wise in your own estimation.
Responsorial Psalm – Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 (R. 6)
R. Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation. R.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name. R.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel! R.
Gospel – Lk 1:39-56
Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of 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. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.” Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
Featured Saints
St. Felix of Nicosia, religious (†1787). After meeting with refusal for ten years, he was finally admitted as a lay brother to the Capuchins of Nicosia, Italy. He stood out for his humility and innocence of heart.
St. Noe Mawaggali, martyr (†1886). Killed by emissaries of the king while giving a catechism class in Mityana, Uganda.
St. Camilla Battista Varano, abbess (†1524). Daughter of the Prince of Camerino (Italy), she left everything to enter the Poor Clare monastery at Urbino at 23 years of age. Three years later, she founded a monastery of the Order in Camerino, of which she was the abbess.
Blessed James Salomoni, priest (†1314). At 17 years of age, he gave all his belongings to the poor and entered the Dominican monastery of Venice. He was elected prior of various monasteries.
Blesseds Robert Thorpe, priest, and Thomas Watkinson, layman, martyrs (†1591). They were executed in Yorkshire, England, during the reign of Elizabeth I, the first, for being a priest and the second for having provided aid to persecuted priests.
Blessed Nicholas Barré, priest (†1686). He founded Christian and Charitable Schools, from which St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle took the inspiration for the foundation of the Christian Brothers.
Blessed Mariano of Roccacasale, religious (†1866). Franciscan friar, he was porter of the convent of Bellegra, Italy for more than forty years, never missing an opportunity to do good to souls.
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