Feast of the Visitation: A Liturgical Analysis

Refrain: Exult with joy, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

God is my Savior,
I am confident and fear nothing.
The Lord is my strength and my praise.
He is my salvation.

With joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation.
Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name;
make known among the peoples the greatness of his deeds,
proclaim to all that his name is holy.

Sing to the Lord, for he has done wonders;
make them known throughout all the earth.
Raise songs of joy, you inhabitants of Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Refrain: Alleluia. (Repeated)
Blessed are you, O holy Virgin Mary,
who believed the word of the Lord.

GOSPEL Lk 1:39-56
“And how does this happen to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me”?

The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke
In those days, Mary set out and went in haste to the hill country, to a town of Judah.
(Ἀναστᾶσα δὲ Μαριὰμ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ταύταις ἐπορεύθη εἰς τὴν ὀρεινὴν μετὰ σπουδῆς εἰς πόλιν Ἰούδα)

She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb.
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit
and cried out in a loud voice:
“Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?
(ἡ μήτηρ τοῦ κυρίου)
[κύριος:
1) he to whom a person or thing belongs, over which he has the power of decision; master, lord
1a) the possessor and owner of a thing
1a1) the proprietor; one who has control over a person, the master
1a2) in the state: the sovereign, prince, chief, the Roman emperor
1b) a title of honor expressing respect and reverence, with which servants greet their master
1c) this title is given to: God, the Messiah]

For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting
reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed is she who believed
in the fulfillment of all that was spoken to her
by the Lord”.
[Let it be done to me according to what you have said]

Then Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For he has looked upon the lowliness of his handmaid:
from this day forward all generations will call me blessed.
The Almighty has done wonders for me,
holy is his name.
His mercy extends from generation to generation
to those who fear Him.
He has shown the strength of his arm
and scattered the proud.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of Israel his servant,
mindful of his mercy,
as he promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his descendants for ever”.
Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months
and then returned to her home.
The Gospel of the Lord.

Lord, holy Father,
almighty and eternal God,
it is truly our duty,
it is our salvation
to celebrate your wondrous power
in the perfection of the saints
and to extol your goodness on the Memorial
(Feast, Solemnity) of the holy Virgin Mary,
taking inspiration from her canticle of praise.
You have worked wonders for all peoples
and have shown, from generation to generation,
your mercy,
when you looked upon the lowliness of your handmaid
and, through her, gave us the Savior of the world, your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him
the multitude of angels adores your majesty
and rejoices eternally in your presence.
Grant that we may join our voices with theirs,
saying (singing) with joy: Holy…