The Visitation of the Blessed Mother Mary
Please enjoy this excerpt from Mother Mary, Mother Me Devotional Journal. If you would like a free download, just click HERE.
“On more than one occasion the Roman Liturgy celebrates the grace-filled mystery in the unfolding of salvation when the Virgin Mary, overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and bearing the Word of God, visits Elizabeth: on the Feast itself (31 May) before the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist (24 June)”
(Collection of Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Vol 1, 2012, p. 36).
PERSONAL STORY
This is one of my favorite Mysteries to ponder. It’s such a beautiful
story of love, relationships, and hospitality! We read in scripture
that Mary goes in haste to her cousin Elizabeth upon hearing of
Elizabeth’s pregnancy (Luke 1:39-45). She does this purely out of
love and charity for her cousin, to be present to her needs. Mary
does not hesitate, even knowing the long, arduous journey it
will require, considering her own pregnancy discomforts and the
uncertainties of how she may be of service to Elizabeth. And she
wants to do this for us too. Mary wants to be invited into our hearts,
to come out of pure love and without hesitation, to fill in the gaps
as our Mother when we are lacking the ability to be motherly
towards others, or even to ourselves.
How many times have I hesitated, or simply forgotten, to invite
Mary in? And how many times have I myself hesitated to imitate
Mary, to go in love and charity to another, because of my own
worldly concerns or fear of not knowing how to help? I’m reminded
of a beautiful gift Our Lady gave me several years ago when I
initially hesitated to go in love to another, and Mary interceded.
The mother of a dear friend of mine was going through weekly
radiation treatments. I was at a loss as to how to help my friend
and her mother navigate this intense emotional and physical
suffering. God put it on my heart to simply show up at the weekly
appointments and be with my friend while her mother was
receiving treatments. At first, I didn’t want to impose, nor did I
even know what I would say or have to offer by showing up. The
Holy Spirit nudged me to let go of my worldly concerns and just
be present. I brought my rosary with me to the first appointment
and suggested we pray the rosary together while her mother
was receiving radiation. And that became our weekly routine.
We would simply be present with each other and pray the rosary
together during her mom’s treatments. Our Lady “visited” us
through the prayers every single week. Through her intercession,
she transformed my self-doubt (thinking I had to have a perfect
plan before showing up) into a beautiful grace and a lasting
gift. Through this experience, she also taught me that love and
hospitality will always bear fruit in our relationships.
CLOSING PRAYER
Jesus, we give You thanks for giving us the gift of Your beautiful
Blessed Mother. We know Mary’s deepest desire is to provide
motherly love to all of her children and to draw us closer to You. May
we turn to Mary as a model of virtue and ask for her intercession.
May we continually invite her into our hearts and homes to receive
her motherly love. Amen.
MOTHER MARY, MOVE ME
Who can I visit today? Who has God placed on my heart to call,
send a note to, or meet face-to-face? Who can I be and bring Christ
to today? Mary, we know your maternal love follows us wherever
we are. I ask you to intercede for me and give me the courage to
go in haste out of love and charity to serve another, to simply be
present to their needs without counting the costs or letting worldly
concerns inhibit me. Give me the grace to let you mother me today
in all my needs.
(excerpt from Mother Mary, Mother Me Devotional Journal)
