Readings:
Eucharistic:
1 Samuel 2:1-10;
Psalm 113
Romans 12:9-16b;
Luke 1:39-57Daily Office:
AM Psalm 72; 1 Samuel 1:1-20; Hebrews 3:1-6
PM Psalm 146, 147; Zechariah 2:10-13; John 3:25-30Preface of the Epiphany
PRAYER (traditional language)
Father in heaven, by whose grace the virgin mother of thine incarnate
Son was blessed in bearing him, but still more blessed in keeping thy
word: Grant us who honor the exaltation of her lowliness to follow the
example of her devotion to thy will; through the same Jesus Christ our
Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen.
PRAYER (contemporary language)
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 obf 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.
Lessons revised in Lesser Feasts & Fasts 2022.
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Last updated: 23 March 2024
THE VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
(31 MAY)
After
the angel Gabriel had announced to Mary that she was to become the mother
of Our Lord, Mary went from Galilee to Judea to visit her kinswoman Elizabeth,
soon to be the mother of John the Baptist. This visit is recorded in Luke
1:39-56. Elizabeth greeted Mary with the words, "Blessed are you
among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb." Mary burst forth
with the song of praise which we call the Magnificat, beginning, "My
soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord." We are told that even
John the Baptist, still unborn, leaped for joy in his mother's womb. Thus
we are shown, side by side, the two women, one seemingly too old to have
a child, but destined to bear the last prophet of the Old Covenant, of
the age that was passing away; and the other woman, seemingly not ready
to have a child, but destined to bear the One Who was Himself the beginning
of the New Covenant, the age that would not pass away.
It is this meeting that we celebrate today.
by James Kiefer