Posted on 05/31/2004 7:12:58 AM PDT by Salvation
May 31, 2004
Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Psalm: Monday 25 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel
Reading I
Zep 3:14-18a
Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!
Sing joyfully, O Israel!
Be glad and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
The LORD has removed the judgment against you,
he has turned away your enemies;
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst,
you have no further misfortune to fear.
On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!
The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
He will sing joyfully because of you,
as one sings at festivals.
or
Rom 12:9-16
Brothers and sisters:
Let love be sincere;
hate what is evil,
hold on to what is good;
love one another with mutual affection;
anticipate one another in showing honor.
Do not grow slack in zeal,
be fervent in spirit,
serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope,
endure in affliction,
persevere in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the holy ones,
exercise hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you,
bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice,
weep with those who weep.
Have the same regard for one another;
do not be haughty but associate with the lowly;
do not be wise in your own estimation.
Responsorial Psalm
Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6
R (6) Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
R Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
R Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
R Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
Gospel
Lk 1:39-56
Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
"Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled."
And Mary said:
"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 will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in 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 for ever."
Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.
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Table Blessing for the Feast of the Visitation, May 31
We remember today the visiting of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth and the wonderful prayer of the Magnificat.
Reading
Having begotten God in her womb, the Virgin hastened to Elizabeth, whose child understood the greeting and rejoiced with leapings as with songs, crying to the Mother of God:
Rejoice, O flower of unwithering stem!
Rejoice, O gift of an incorruptible fruit!
Rejoice, O fountain of the source of life, the lover of humanity!
Rejoice, O Mother of the Son of God the Father!
Rejoice, O field, a harvest of mercy!
Rejoice, O banquet, a feast of purity!
Rejoice, O flower, a meadow of delights!
Rejoice, O guide, the harbor of souls!
Rejoice, O acceptable incense of prayers!
Rejoice, O purification of the universe!
Rejoice, O goodness of God toward the dead!
Rejoice, O boldness of dead toward God!
Rejoice, O unwedded bride! (Akathist Hymn)
Responsory
Verse: When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, she said: Response: "Who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"
The Lord's Prayer
Blessing
Blessed be you, God of mercy and compassion, for you inspired Mary, the humble maiden of Nazareth, to visit her cousin Elizabeth and to assist her in her earthly needs. Help us, that following Mary's example we may remain always open to the needs and sufferings of others. Strengthen us with the nourishment of this meal, and bring us one day to love's eternal feast in your kingdom. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
From: Romans 12:9-16
Charity Towards All
From: Luke 1:39-56
The Visitation
FEAST OF THE DAY
The feast of the Visitation commemorates Mary's visit to her cousin
Elizabeth after the Annunciation and before the birth of St. John the
Baptist. This feast was established during the Middle Ages and was
celebrated by the Franciscan order before Pope Urban VI extended it
to the whole Church in 1389.
This feast is important for a variety of reasons. During this meeting of
Mary and Elizabeth, Mary proclaims the Magnificat, which is
repeated at every Evening Prayer, and Elizabeth proclaims one of
the lines we repeat in the Hail Mary. This feast also represents the
first meeting of St. John the Baptist and Jesus. The presence of the
Lord inspires John so much that he leaps with joy and Elizabeth is
filled with the Holy Spirit. This feast also provides an interesting
commentary on the importance of the unborn. Both John and Jesus
are unborn at this meeting, but both hold important roles in this
narrative and remind us that life is sacred even in its earliest stages.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in
haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the
infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among
women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this
happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at
the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant
in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what
was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." -Lk 1:39-45
TODAY IN HISTORY
1821 The first Catholic cathedral in the United States, Cathedral of
the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is dedicated in Baltimore
TODAY'S TIDBIT
The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary are the Annunciation, the
Visitation, The Nativity, the Presentation and the Finding of Jesus in
the Temple.
INTENTION FOR THE DAY
Please pray that all people may develop a greater respect for life,
especially for the unborn and the elderly.
Magnificat
The Magnificat is the hymn chanted by the Blessed Virgin in thanksgiving for the privilege of becoming the Mother of God and for God's goodness in redeeming mankind. To understand this prayer more perfectly, it would help if we visualized ourselves present at the great hour in which it was first uttered. Mary had received the message from an angel that she was to be the Mother of the Son of God. She cannot fully understand that great grace and has no one to whom she can pour out her bursting heart. She goes into the hill country of Judea to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was favored with a somewhat similar blessing. Divinely enlightened, Elizabeth greeted and received Mary as the Mother of her God. Now Mary can no longer restrain the lofty emotions within her soul; she gives vent to a heart overflowing with gratitude. She prays the Magnificat. She thanks God for the great dignity that has come to her and for the redemption that it brings to men.
The Magnifcat very early found its place in the liturgy; already in the fourth century it formed part of the Office, and one tradition credits St. Benedict for having introduced it into Vespers.
My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden,
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm:
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy;
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His posterity forever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Scripture text: Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition
Magnificat anima mea Dominum;
Et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo,
Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae; ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.
Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen ejus,
Et misericordia ejus a progenie in progenies timentibus eum.
Fecit potentiam brachio suo;
Dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.
Deposuit potentes de sede, et exaltavit humiles.
Esurientes implevit bonis, et divites dimisit inanes.
Sucepit Israel, puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae suae,
Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semeni ejus in saecula.
Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
Monday, May 31, 2004
Meditation
Luke 1:39-56
The Visitation of Mary
Dont you find it remarkable that God chose to bring about his work of redemption through two human babies and their mothers? Jesus was still in Marys womb, yet in his presence Elizabeth and her own unborn son, John, were filled with the Holy Spirit. This short but powerful scene gives us a glimpse of the forceful love of God, who simply cant wait to pour out his life.
What a foreshadowing this is of the glory of the risen Christ, who wants to pour out his Spirit on all people! Elizabeths pure and humble response to the work of God in their lives must have brought great comfort to Mary. In Elizabeth she finally found someone with whom she could share her joy and awe at what was happening in her. Who else at this time could understand the song welling up within Marys heart (Luke 1:46-56)? Rather than being jealous of her younger relatives exalted position, Elizabeth rejoiced with Mary and embraced her own supportive role. For her part, Mary did not wait for Elizabeth to come to her, but hastened to her side.
While this meeting between Mary and Elizabeth is unique, there is something here that we can all experience. As baptized believers, each of us is capable of bearing Christ to others. If our eyes were opened to the glory of this truth, we too would rejoice and be humbled in the presence of so holy a vessel as a sister or brother in Christ. Even nonbelievers would move us to great reverence because they too are created in Gods image and have just as much potential of being filled with the Holy Spirit. If God has so highly honored human beings this way, how could we fail to show them equal honor?
God used Jesus, even when he was just a fetus in the womb, to pour out divine life. Everyone, no matter how young or old, no matter how strong or weak, has been created as a dwelling place for God. So how can we long for Gods presence and yet disregard him in the people all around us?
Lord Jesus, as you opened Elizabeths eyes in the presence of Mary, so open our eyes to those who also bear Christ. Help us to honor the potential of each person to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
All Issues > Volume 20, Number 3
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Monday, May 31, 2004 The Visitation of the Virgin Mary (Feast) |
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Author: St. Bede the Venerable
Date: Monday, May 31, 2004
(Excerpt from a homily by Saint Bede the Venerable, priest)
Luke 1:39-56
Mary proclaims the greatness of the Lord working in her soul
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." With these words Mary first acknowledges the special gifts she has been given. Then she recalls God's universal favors, bestowed unceasingly on the human race.
When a man devotes all his thoughts to the praise and service of the Lord, he proclaims God's greatness. His observance of God's commands, moreover, shows that he has God's power and greatness always at heart. His spirit rejoices in God his Savior and delights in the mere recollection of his Creator who gives him hope for eternal salvation.
These words are often used for all God's creations, but especially for the Mother of God. She alone was chosen, and she burned with spiritual love for the son she so joyously conceived. Above all other saints, she alone could truly rejoice in Jesus, her Savior, for she knew that He Who was the source of eternal salvation would be born in time in her body, in one person both her own son and her Lord.
"For the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name." Mary attributes nothing to her own merits. She refers all her greatness to the gift of the one whose essence is power and whose nature is greatness, for He fills with greatness and strength the small and the weak who believe in Him.
She did well to add: "and holy is His name," to warn those who heard, and indeed all who would receive His words, that they must believe and call upon His name. For they too could share in everlasting holiness and true salvation according to the words of the prophet: and it will come to pass, that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. This is the name she spoke of earlier: "...and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior."
Therefore it is an excellent and fruitful custom of holy Church that we should sing Mary's hymn at the time of evening prayer. By meditating upon the incarnation, our devotion is kindled, and by remembering the example of God's Mother, we are encouraged to lead a life of virtue. Such virtues are best achieved in the evening. We are weary after the day's work and worn out by our distractions. The time for rest is near, and our minds are ready for contemplation.
Let us pray.
Happy are you who have believed,
because the Lord's promises will be accomplished in you.
And Mary said:
R. My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.
Come, and listen,
and I will tell what great things God
has accomplished for me.
R. My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.
Te Deum
You are God: we praise You;
You are the Lord: we acclaim You;
You are the eternal Father:
All creation worships You.
To You all angels, all the powers of heaven,
Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise You.
The noble fellowship of prophets praise You.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise You.
Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims You:
Father, of majesty unbounded,
Your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,
and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are the king of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.
When you became man to set us free
you did not spurn the Virgin's womb.
You overcame the sting of death,
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are seated at God's right hand in glory.
We believe that You will come, and be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help Your people,
bought with the price of Your own blood,
and bring us with Your saints
to glory everlasting.
V. Save Your people, Lord, and bless Your inheritance.
R. Govern and uphold them now and always.
V. Day by day we bless You.
R. We praise Your name for ever.
V. Keep us today, Lord, from all sin.
R. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
V. Lord, show us Your love and mercy;
R. for we put our trust in You.
V. In You, Lord, is our hope:
R. and we shall never hope in vain.
Prayer
Eternal Father,
You inspired the Virgin Mary, mother of Your Son,
to visit Elizabeth and assist her in her need.
Keep us open to the working of Your Spirit,
and with Mary may we praise You for ever.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Let us praise the Lord. And give Him thanks.
Amen.
Lk 1:39-56 | ||
---|---|---|
# | Douay-Rheims | Vulgate |
39 | And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda. | exsurgens autem Maria in diebus illis abiit in montana cum festinatione in civitatem Iuda |
40 | And she entered into the house of Zachary and saluted Elizabeth. | et intravit in domum Zacchariae et salutavit Elisabeth |
41 | And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. | et factum est ut audivit salutationem Mariae Elisabeth exultavit infans in utero eius et repleta est Spiritu Sancto Elisabeth |
42 | And she cried out with a loud voice and said: Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. | et exclamavit voce magna et dixit benedicta tu inter mulieres et benedictus fructus ventris tui |
43 | And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? | et unde hoc mihi ut veniat mater Domini mei ad me |
44 | For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. | ecce enim ut facta est vox salutationis tuae in auribus meis exultavit in gaudio infans in utero meo |
45 | And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord. | et beata quae credidit quoniam perficientur ea quae dicta sunt ei a Domino |
46 | And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord. | et ait Maria magnificat anima mea Dominum |
47 | And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. | et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo |
48 | Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. | quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes |
49 | Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is his name. | quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est et sanctum nomen eius |
50 | And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him. | et misericordia eius in progenies et progenies timentibus eum |
51 | He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. | fecit potentiam in brachio suo dispersit superbos mente cordis sui |
52 | He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble. | deposuit potentes de sede et exaltavit humiles |
53 | He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away. | esurientes implevit bonis et divites dimisit inanes |
54 | He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy. | suscepit Israhel puerum suum memorari misericordiae |
55 | As he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his seed for ever. | sicut locutus est ad patres nostros Abraham et semini eius in saecula |
56 | And Mary abode with her about three months. And she returned to her own house. | mansit autem Maria cum illa quasi mensibus tribus et reversa est in domum suam |
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