Greetings on this the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Readings: Zep 3:14-18a; Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6; Lk 1:39-56
Notes:
During Camino I entered a town where about the noon hour.
At noon the Church bells began to toll a Hail Mary.
I diverted as did another person, a woman who I thought spoke only Spanish, and we made our way to the Church doors.
They were locked.
The Church was closed.
The music was automated.
I turned to her and said, ‘?Oración del ángelus?
Sí
The Angelus (Noon prayer of the Church)
The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
R/ And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
[In Spanish] Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord:
R/ Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
[In Spanish] Hail Mary…
And the Word was made Flesh:
R/ And dwelt among us.
[In Spanish] Hail Mary…
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,
R/ that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray: Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
At the end, in English, I said, ‘We are the first to pray the Angelus here in a long time’.
She replied, ‘Yes, we are’.
Smiles.
Shared smiles.
Back to the Camino.
Franciscan Media: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/visitation-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary/
Reflection
One of the invocations in Mary’s litany is “Ark of the Covenant.” Like the Ark of the Covenant of old, Mary brings God’s presence into the lives of other people. As David danced before the Ark, John the Baptist leaps for joy. As the Ark helped to unite the 12 tribes of Israel by being placed in David’s capital, so Mary has the power to unite all Christians in her son. At times, devotion to Mary may have occasioned some divisiveness, but we can hope that authentic devotion will lead all to Christ and therefore, to one another.
First Reading
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.
Responsorial
Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
Gospel Acclamation
Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.
Gospel
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.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry