Feast Of The Visitation

Three of my friends had children this year within weeks of each other. It really is something special, to share that experience with someone else. "You're having a baby? Me, too!" Just like Mary and Elizabeth.

In our lives, in so many ways we don't realize, we share in the life of Jesus by living these biblical experiences. The ordinary, everyday humanity of Mary; the extraordinary lives to which we are all called. All of it is miraculous, even to the smallest of things.

Magnificat anima † mea Dominum,
et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salvatore meo,
quia respexit humilitatem ancillæ suæ.
Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes,
quia fecit mihi magna,
qui potens est,
et sanctum nomen eius,
et misericordia eius in progenies et progenies
timentibus eum.
Fecit potentiam in brachio suo,
dispersit superbos mente cordis sui;
deposuit potentes de sede
et exaltavit humiles;
esurientes implevit bonis
et divites dimisit inanes.
Suscepit Israel puerum suum,
recordatus misericordiæ,
sicut locutus est ad patres nostros,
Abraham et semini eius in sæcula.

My soul † proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;
he has looked with favour 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,
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm
and has scattered the proud in their conceit,
Casting down the mighty from their thrones
and lifting up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,
to remember his promise of mercy,
The promise made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his children for ever.

Grace, Raphaël, Giulianna, you are all holy and beloved. God be with you always.