The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

# The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

If the ancient Roman liturgy of the sixth century already read the passage of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth in the Friday of Advent Season, it was only at the end of the Middle Ages that this evangelical mystery gained a dedicated feast day in the Western Church calendar.

Although the origin of the feast is generally attributed to a meeting of the Franciscan chapter in Pisa in 1263 under Saint Bonaventure, reliable evidence points to a later date. Indeed, it was Bishop John Jenstein of Prague who introduced the Feast of the Visitation in his diocese in 1386, to be celebrated on April 28th (in chronological agreement with March 25th), composing texts for the Mass and Office. Eight years had passed since the Western Schism, which saw Christianity split between Pope Urban VI and the Antipope Clement VII. Bishop Jenstein worked tirelessly to promote the feast: he not only wrote to bishops and religious superiors but also pleaded with Urban VI to introduce it throughout the Church, to end the scandal of division. Thus, in the declared desire to see the Church’s unity restored, in 1389 Pope Urban VI accepted the bishop of Prague’s request.

He announced an extraordinary jubilee for the following year, including, according to the decision of Gregory XI, Santa Maria Maggiore among the jubilee basilicas. There, on July 2nd, the new feast was to be solemnly celebrated with a vigil and octave, and equal in indulgences to Corpus Christi. However, Urban VI, taken by death, was unable to publish the official bull promulgating the feast. It was issued by his successor Boniface IX, at the request of Dom Jenstein, who came as a pilgrim to Rome for the Holy Year of 1390. Since the bull did not mention the liturgical texts, besides the texts of the Nativity of Mary, those composed by the bishop of Prague and Cardinal English Dom Adam Easton were also used.

According to historical criticism, the feast of the Visitation was only embraced by faithfuls in communion with the Pope of Rome. Instead, it was ignored by supporters of the antipope. Only in 1441, when the Council of Basel, though illegitimate, confirmed the bull of Boniface IX with new texts composed by Thomas of Corcellis, did the Visitation gradually become proposed to the whole Church. At the Council of Florence (1438-1445), under Eugene IV, the feast was included in the calendars of the Syrian, Maronite, and Coptic Patriarchates.

In 1475, Sixtus IV reiterated with an encyclical the opportunity to solemnize the Visitation, to which he had dedicated the church of Santa Maria della Pace in Rome, ordering new liturgical texts for the feast and indulgencing the octave.

In the post-Tridentine revision of the liturgical books, St. Pius V abolished the various texts in use, as well as the vigils and octave of the Visitation, adopting for it the Mass and office of the Nativity of Mary. In 1602, Clement VIII made it a double feast of major rite, revising the texts and composing new ones. Finally, in 1850, Pius IX elevated the Visitation to a dual rite of second class.

Our current liturgical calendar logically anticipated the Visitation to the birth of John the Baptist (June 24th). It replaced the feast of “Maria Regina” (Mary Queen) established on May 31st by Pius XII, a popular Marian tradition that is now celebrated on August 22nd. Today celebrated near the time of Pentecost, it can be indicated, as suggested by the evangelical texts, as a particular memory of the Virgin at her Pentecost: under the breath of the Holy Spirit, the “ark of the covenant” that anticipates the primitive Church, filled with enthusiasm in prayer of the Magnificat.

## Mysteries Celebrated:

1. **Recognition of Mary and Elizabeth:** The two mothers acknowledge the onset of a new era, filled with messianic joy, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and prophetic charism. Through double miracles—the mothers prophesying under inspiration from their children—they foretell the birth of the sons. This is significant because, just as sin began with a woman, grace restores the world through two women, symbolizing life over death.

2. **First Evangelizing Mission:** The Holy Spirit’s initiative in Mary for the salvation of humanity is celebrated. Mary brings Christ to John, and he gives the first testimony about Jesus from his mother’s womb. Elizabeth hears the voice of God, while John experiences the grace. Elizabeth perceives Mary’s arrival through natural order, while John rejoices in the mystery, recognizing the presence of the Messiah.

3. **Singing Mary’s Praises:** The unique blessing bestowed upon Mary since her motherhood is proclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Luke 1:42). Her dignity as the “Mother of the Lord” (Luke 1:43) and her faith opposed to Zechariah’s unbelief (cf. Luke 1:20) are recognized: “Blessed is she who believed in the fulfillment of the Lord’s words” (Luke 1:45). A perpetual worship of Mary, favored by God, is foretold: “From this time on, all generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:48-49).

4. **Celebration of Divine Mercy:** God’s mercy is celebrated in looking upon Mary’s humility (cf. Luke 1:48), His servant (Luke 1:48). He helps “His servant Israel” (Luke 1:54), fulfilling promises made to Abraham and his descendants forever (Luke 1:55). The divine action, wise and just, overcomes evil plans, disperses the proud, lifts up the humble, fills the hungry, and sends the rich away empty-handed (cf. Luke 1:51-53).

**Liturgical Praise:**

Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

# The Promise of the Child

Let our song ascend to God for having chosen You.

In Your mystical word, it is the whole Church that exults,
because it feels that Christ’s birth is near.

Look upon us, Holy Virgin,
upon the peoples who acclaim You and love You,
trusting in Your power of help.

True joy and our shelter,
save us from storms,
and gather us in eternal light.

With You, Holy Virgin,
and with the Angels in Heaven,
we will praise the Lord
who made You His Chosen One.

## Theological Depth: The Visit of Mary to Elizabeth

The visit of Mary to Elizabeth is theologically explored in depth in Pope John Paul II’s encyclical *Redemptoris Mater*, which presents this biblical episode as a model of Mary’s path of faith and her mission to bring Christ to the world.

### Further Study:
– Explore Mariology
– Dive into Marian Theology
– Investigate Marian Apparitions
– Enroll in Postgraduate Studies in Mariology