Today marks a very special day - The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast day celebrates when Mary visited her cousin, Elizabeth. At the time, Elizabeth was pregnant (even though she was well past her childbearing years!) with Saint John the Baptist. During the Annunciation of the Lord, angel Gabriel told Mary that her cousin also conceived a son and was six months pregnant. Mary quickly traveled to her cousin's house, and as soon as she greeted Elizabeth, John the Baptist leaped out of her womb! She was then filled with the Holy Spirit. Mary rejoiced with praise and joy. In honor of this feast day, we've gathered five of our favorite ways to celebrate.
Read the Story of the Visitation
Leap for joy like John the Baptist
When was the last time you LEPT for anything? Go outside and do a big leap of joy (maybe leap a few times).
As you are leaping, reflect:
How do I greet the Lord in my daily life?
Do I enter into prayer time joyfully?
How can I be more childlike in my relationship with God?
Pray a Hail Mary
The Hail Mary is a prayer that can sometimes be easy to rush through when it is said often. When Elizabeth sees Mary, she is filled with the Holy Spirit and says, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” It is known as the first devotion to Mary and where we find the words for our own devotions to the Mother of God.
Pray a Hail Mary slowly today.
Write down the words in your journal. Draw what these words mean to you. Really dwell and sit with the meaning and beauty of these words.
Reflect on God's promises over your life
“Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.” (Luke 1:45)
It can be hard to believe in God’s promises. What are some of the promises God has made over your life? In what ways have they been fulfilled? Are there some that still have yet to be fulfilled? What are some ways your heart is still longing and yearning?
Write these down and pray a Hail Mary over each promise. Ask for Mary’s help in having fiat (faith) in God’s fulfillment of His promises to you.
Pray the Magnificat
Mary’s response to Elizabeth saying, “Blessed are you!” is also known as “Mary’s Song.” It is also known as the Canticle of Mary that is said during every Evening Prayer for Liturgy of the Hours.
Set an alarm to say a prayer this evening at 6pm.
Recite the Canticle of Mary (aka Magnificat)
You can download this print of the Magnificat for free here!
The Magnificat Prayer:
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 shall call me Blessed. The Almighty has done great things for me, and Holy is His name. He has mercy on those who fear Him from 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 forever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the Beginning, is Now, and Will Be, forever and ever. Amen.
Looking for more inspiration on how to celebrate the Liturgical seasons?
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