The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: A Journey of Joy, A Mission of Mercy
- Altynai Maria Abaskan
- May 31
- 3 min read
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." – Luke 1:46–47
The Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated this year on Saturday, May 31, 2025, invites the faithful to meditate on a scene of quiet intimacy and profound joy: Mary, the Mother of God, traveling in haste to the hill country to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Though often overlooked in the rhythm of the liturgical year, the Visitation offers a deep well of meaning. It reveals the humility of Mary, the joy of the Incarnation, and the mystery of God’s grace shared through presence and service.
A Young Woman in Motion
The Gospel of Luke tells us that after the Annunciation—after the angel Gabriel departed and the Holy Spirit had come upon her—Mary set out "in haste" to the house of Zechariah and Elizabeth. She had just received the most astounding news in all of salvation history: that she would bear the Son of God. Yet she did not linger in contemplation of herself or her role. She moved outward, toward another. In this, Mary shows the shape of Christian life: love received becomes love shared.
The Visitation is not just a charming story of two expectant mothers meeting. It is the meeting of the Old and the New Covenants, of promise and fulfillment. Elizabeth, carrying the last prophet of the Old Testament—John the Baptist—recognizes, through the Holy Spirit, the presence of her Lord in Mary’s womb. She cries out with the words we echo in every Hail Mary:
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”
The Song of the Church: The Magnificat
It is here, in this home of joy and recognition, that Mary sings her great hymn—the Magnificat. Her words are not self-centered. They are the praise of a woman fully attuned to the action of God in history. She sings of mercy, of justice, of God’s faithfulness to the lowly. Her song, shaped by Scripture, becomes the song of the Church—recited each day at Evening Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours.
In the Visitation, Mary becomes the first missionary disciple. She carries Christ—not in word or theology—but in her very body and presence. Her journey into the hill country foreshadows the journey of the Church into the world. Wherever she goes, Christ goes. Wherever she enters, joy breaks forth.
A Feast of Humility and Service
The Visitation is a deeply Marian mystery, but it is also a deeply human one. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months, likely until John was born. She didn’t visit merely to celebrate, but to serve. To cook, to clean, to listen, to support. This is the Christian model of service—grounded in presence and made fruitful by love.
For those who live hidden lives of care—mothers, grandmothers, caregivers, those who visit the sick or tend to the elderly—the Visitation reminds us that these acts, though unseen, are profoundly divine. God is present in the daily journey to others.
A Reflection for Our Time
In a world that celebrates speed, noise, and self-promotion, the Feast of the Visitation calls us back to the simplicity of presence. Mary didn’t bring gifts or grand speeches. She brought herself. In doing so, she brought Christ. The world still needs this kind of visitation—a love that walks, listens, and stays.
*All articles in our blog are written with the help of ChatGPT AI and reviewed by human editors.
