In The Visitation
Elizabeth Is Overjoyed
By Mary's Visit
"And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"
-Luke 1:43
The Visitation is took place when Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth.
Considering this scene and looking at a picture, will help you meditate on this mystery of the rosary.
Keep in mind also that the fruit of this mystery is love of neighbor.
Use the following story to help you set the scene...
During the Angel Gabriel's appearance to Mary, he also tells her that her cousin Elizabeth is expecting a baby.
Elizabeth is much older than Mary and was thought to be infertile because of her age and because she had no children.
Gabriel reveals this to Mary to show that "no word shall be impossible with God" -Luke 1:36.
After the Angel leaves, Mary visits her Cousin Elizabeth. Mary enters into the house of Elizabeth and her husband Zachary.
When Elizabeth hears Mary's greeting she feels her child leap within her.
Elizabeth proclaims to Mary...
"Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb." -Luke 1:42
This phrase again is used in the Catholic Rosary Prayers, the Hail Mary Prayer. Elizabeth continues...
"And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy." -Luke 1:43-44
Leapt for joy...notice here that St. John the Baptist, Elizabeth's child,
is the first to experience the joys of Mary and Jesus. How special he is.
Mary responded to Elizabeth with another famous prayer the Magnificat which is taken directly from St. Luke's Gospel chapter 1:46-55...
My soul doth magnify the Lord.
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid;
for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me;
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is from generation unto generations,
to them that fear him.
He hath showed might in his arm:
he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat,
and hath exalted the humble.
He hath filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy:
As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.
Notice that it is Biblical to refer to Mary as Blessed.
It says so right in the New Testament, "All generations shall call me blessed."
You obey this command when you pray the Rosary and especially when you meditate upon this mystery, the Visitation.
Mary then stays with Elizabeth for three months. Surely she helps her cousin who was late in pregnancy.
Elizabeth has a son and names him John.
The Bible says that he is the prophet of the highest and that he prepares his way.
The highest is, of course, Jesus and John went before Jesus and "enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: to direct our feet into the way of peace." -Luke 1:79
Meditating upon the mysteries of the Rosary and especially the Visitation, will direct your feet into the way of peace.
The Bible passages for the Visitation were taken from the timeless Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible.
If you are looking for a more modern language version of the Visitation, our recommendation would be the St. Ignatius Press Bible.
If you would like to read the full scriptural account of The Visitation it can be found in Luke 1:39-56.
Return to Joyful Mysteries page
More Meditations On The Rosary Mystery
The Visitation...
Here are some additional thoughts to enhance your meditation on the Visitation Rosary mystery below. Also, a great way to meditate on the Rosary mystery is to pick one of the meditations below, then head over to our Rosary mp3 page and listen to the Rosary while meditating on a specific topic. You will also find our Joyful Rosary Video page helpful in your meditation on the Visitation.
Return often to this page when you are praying the Joyful Mystery of the Rosary - The Visitation.
Make sure you bookmark this page so you can find it easily...
You can also contribute your own meditations on this Rosary mystery by going here...
Below are some meditations to think about as you pray...
"Love" or better translated "charity bears all things" -Corinth 13:7
Mary wants to share Jesus with others. The first person she shares Him with is St. Elizabeth.
You too should follow Mary's example and share Jesus and His Church to those you love.
Consider this verse: "And the ark of God remained in the house of Obededom three months: and the Lord blessed his house, and all that he had." -I Chronicles 13:14
- Mary in a very true sense is the Ark of God for she carried Jesus within her. The Lord blessed the house of Elizabeth just as he did the house of Obededom
The Visitation is the Pro-Life mystery.
It is important to take note of this especially at a time when more than 1 million babies die each year by abortion, and as Euthanasia is sweeping across America.
Elizabeth's baby "leapt" within her womb.
Living beings leap.
The Bible here shows that it is unquestionably pro-life.
This is not up for debate.
An unborn baby is a baby and human life must be protected from womb to tomb.
Consider this parable...
"The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in a field. Which a man having found, hid it, and for joy thereof goeth, and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field." -Matthew 13:44
- Mary is the field. Jesus is the treasure hidden within
From the onset, God used Mary to channel graces from Jesus.
These graces were first recieved by Elizabeth and John the Baptist and continue to be received by those who ask her for them.
She is the storehouse of Grace.
By the sound of Mary's voice, the Holy Spirit was conferred on St. Elizabeth and thereby on her child, fulfilling the words of the Archangel Gabriel to Zachary.
- "And he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb." -Luke 2:15
Mary demonstrates kindness to family members and respect for elders in this mystery.
When you read the full account of the Visitation, you see that Mary and Zachary are at odds.
Mary trusts God.
She says "be it done to me according to thy word." -Luke 1:38.
Zachary on the other hand after receiving his message from Archangel Gabriel answered him saying...
"Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." -Luke 1:18
The Angel then said to Zachary, "thou shalt be dumb ... because thou hast not
believed my words" Luke 1:20
Mary trusts and Zachary doubts.
Mary's humility is once again demonstrated in this mystery for she did not praise herself by retelling the wonderful visit from Gabriel.
Rather, Elizabeth sang Mary's praises.
Then Mary responded by praising God in her prayer, the Magnificat.
Prayer After Meditation
On
The Visitation...
Dear Lord, help me to love and enjoy my immediate family and my extended family although
there may be differneces in what we believe.
Please give me the graces to be charitable towards my neighbor at home, at work
and even at the store. In doing so, let it bring others to you through me.
Amen.
Visit the third Joyful Mystery page - Birth of Jesus
Return to the first Joyful Mystery page - Annunciation
Return to our Meditations on the Rosary page
More scriptural meditations on the rosary - The Visitation here...
Catholic Mysteries Of The Rosary
Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary
The Joyful Mysteries are taken mostly from St. Luke's Gospel in the New Testament. They involve the joyful events of Jesus' childhood. The most joyful event in all of human history is the Incarnation or when God became man and dwelt among us read more...
Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary
What a gift the the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary are. Meditating on these
Mysteries of Light bring even deeper understanding of the public life of Jesus.
They fill in the blanks between Jesus' childhood and His suffering and death on
the cross. Therefore read more...
Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary
The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary remind you of how much Jesus
loves you. He suffered and died for you. "Greater love than this no
man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
-John 15:13. You are loved by Jesus read more...
Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary
The Glorious Mysteries are the crown of Jesus' triumphs. How
exhilarating to know that Jesus is God and that He rose from the dead,
making you an heir to Heaven. Reminding yourself of these glorious
events as you pray the Rosary prayer will keep your faith alive and strong read more...
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Return to Catholic Rosary Prayers page
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