06/02/2026
Father in heaven, by your grace the virgin mother of your incarnate Son was blessed in bearing him, but still more blessed in keeping your word: Grant us who honor the exaltation of her lowliness to follow the example of her devotion to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Feast of the Visitation commemorates Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth as told in the Gospel of Luke. Bearing the unborn Christ, Mary journeyed to the hill country to share in Elizabeth’s joy, for Elizabeth too was expecting a son—John the Baptist. When Mary greeted her, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and cried out, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” In that moment, the child in Elizabeth’s womb leapt for joy, recognizing the nearness of the Savior. Mary responded with her song of praise, the Magnificat, proclaiming God’s mercy and the lifting up of the humble. The Visitation reveals the meeting of the old and new covenants, of prophecy and fulfillment, and of two faithful women whose openness to God made way for salvation’s unfolding. The feast invites the faithful to share Mary’s joy, her humility, and her readiness to bear Christ into the world through lives of gratitude and service.
