“Mary set out, proceeding in haste into the hill country to a town of Judah, where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby stirred in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. But who am I, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby stirred in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who trusted that the Lord’s words to her would be fulfilled. And Mary said, ’My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord. My spirit finds joy in God, my Savior, for He has looked upon His servant in her lowliness. All ages to come shall call me blessed. God, who is mighty, has done great things for me. Holy is His Name! His mercy is from age to age on those who fear Him. He has shown might with His arms. He has confused the proud in their most inward thoughts. He has deposed the mighty from their thrones and raised the lowly to high places. The hungry He has given every good thing, while the rich He has sent away empty. He has upheld Israel, His servant, ever mindful of His mercy, even as He promised our fathers, promised Abraham and his descendant forever.’ Mary remained with Elizabeth for about three months, and then returned home” (Luke 1:39-56).
"This is the story of Mary’s power in the Holy Spirit to visit every one of us. When these two women were together—Mary and Elizabeth—it wasn’t just an ordinary human visit. They weren’t in ordinary human conversation with one another. They were present to each other in the Holy Spirit.
Mary had been filled with the Holy Spirit, and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, she hastened to visit her cousin. The instant that Mary greeted her cousin, not only the infant in Elizabeth’s womb jumped for joy, but Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit. She was enlightened to know who the Infant in Mary’s womb is.
Mary has to be present to us in the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, she could not fill her God-given role as Mother of the Church, and that means, Mother of every single member of the Church.
That’s why we celebrate not only Mary's visit to Elizabeth, but her frequent visits to all of us. We may not experience her presence, but she does have a powerful influence in our lives forming the likeness of her Son in us.
Let us pray: For God’s people everywhere, that we will appreciate what the Mother of Jesus has done for each of us, that we will know how to respond to her, address her with confidence knowing that she is powerful to help us grow in Christ, Lord, hear our prayer!
That the Holy Spirit will exercise His power in leading the rulers of the nations, that He will enlighten them with wisdom, that He will give them right hearts to work for peace and justice and for the good of every individual person, Lord, hear our prayer!"
~ Fr. Paul Hinnebusch, from 1985-05-31 F-Visitation-Our Lady Visits Us-TranscriptT15s1b
"This is the story of Mary’s power in the Holy Spirit to visit every one of us. When these two women were together—Mary and Elizabeth—it wasn’t just an ordinary human visit. They weren’t in ordinary human conversation with one another. They were present to each other in the Holy Spirit.
Mary had been filled with the Holy Spirit, and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, she hastened to visit her cousin. The instant that Mary greeted her cousin, not only the infant in Elizabeth’s womb jumped for joy, but Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit. She was enlightened to know who the Infant in Mary’s womb is.
Mary has to be present to us in the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, she could not fill her God-given role as Mother of the Church, and that means, Mother of every single member of the Church.
That’s why we celebrate not only Mary's visit to Elizabeth, but her frequent visits to all of us. We may not experience her presence, but she does have a powerful influence in our lives forming the likeness of her Son in us.
Let us pray: For God’s people everywhere, that we will appreciate what the Mother of Jesus has done for each of us, that we will know how to respond to her, address her with confidence knowing that she is powerful to help us grow in Christ, Lord, hear our prayer!
That the Holy Spirit will exercise His power in leading the rulers of the nations, that He will enlighten them with wisdom, that He will give them right hearts to work for peace and justice and for the good of every individual person, Lord, hear our prayer!"
~ Fr. Paul Hinnebusch, from 1985-05-31 F-Visitation-Our Lady Visits Us-TranscriptT15s1b
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