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Statue of the Visitation at Church of the Visitation in Ein Karem, Israel
Credit : Deror avi, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

What is the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary?

The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary celebrated on May 31, is the biblical event of Mary visiting her cousin, Elizabeth. This event is narrated in the Gospel of Luke (1:36, 39-45).

It is believed by many biblical scholars that Mary visited Elizabeth to help her during the last three months of her pregnancy.

This would make sense, as Elizabeth miraculously conceived a child at an advanced age, and would have needed extra help.

Mary’s visit to Elizabeth was also a journey that wasn’t easy, passing through a country that was dangerous to travel.

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for the next three months, possibly even helping with the birth of St. John the Baptist.

The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a beautiful biblical event, one that highlights the charitable heart of Mary for her cousin, Elizabeth.

History of the Feast

This feast was established by Pope Urban VI in 1389 in order to bring the Great Schism to an end through the intercession of Mary. It originated in Byzantium when, on 2 July, the Gospel of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth was read on the Feast of the “Deposition in the Basilica of the Holy Garment of the Theotokos”.  The Franciscans adopted this Marian feast day in 1263, calling it the Visitation of Mary. After the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council, the date for the feast was fixed on 31 May, at the end of the month dedicated to Mary.

Church of the Visitation

The Church of the Visitation (formerly Abbey Church of St John in the Woods) is a Catholic church in Ein Karem, Jerusalem, and honors the visit paid by the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, to Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1:39–56). This is the site where tradition says that Mary recited her song of praise, the Magnificat, one of the most ancient Marian hymns.

- Article by CT Staff

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