The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Normally on May 31st (since it falls on a Sunday this year, Pentecost takes precedence), we celebrate the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Elizabeth. Shortly after Gabriel the Archangel visited Mary to announce that she will become the Mother of God (the solemnity of the Annunciation), Mary made haste to her cousin Elizabeth who was miraculously pregnant with John the Baptist.

Both women had parallel pregnancies. Zechariah, Elizabeth’s husband had also been greeted by Gabriel and was promised that Elizabeth, who was thought to be barren, would bear a son. Mary, was told that she would give a virgin birth to the Son of God. Though both pregnancies seemed impossible, the Lord made true to his promises, and salvation came forth.

Mary, though pregnant herself, made haste to help and care for Elizabeth. We reflect on the mystery of the Visitation in the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. The fruit of reflecting on this mystery is Love of Neighbor. Mary continues to show her love for others, coming forth from her immense love of God.

Elementary Activities:

Do You Love Your Neighbor Worksheet (with Instructions)

Spot the Difference Visitation Worksheet

Visitation Coloring Page

Ways to Be a Good Neighbor

High School Activities:

Sometimes we can be turned off from the idea of helping others when we are struggling ourselves. Mary reminds us to pour out and to give even out of our necessity.

Mary makes haste to tend to her cousin Elizabeth, and as she arrives, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit, and John the Baptist leaps with joy in her womb. Elizabeth acclaims,

“Most 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? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:42-44).

Mary, filled with both humility and magnanimity, proclaims the greatness of the LORD in her Canticle. (Luke 1: 46-55).

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.

For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.

The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.

He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.

He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.

The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

Below is a beautiful rendition of the Canticle of Mary:

Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.

Our Lady models for us the virtue of hope. She knows both her dependence on God and the great things that he can do in working through each of us. She trust in the promises that God has made, and she gives completely of herself to others.

How can we give out of our necessity? How can we love our neighbor even when we feel like there is not much to give?

Additional Resources:

Here is a super cool and brief Scriptural study of the Visitation account in Luke: Mary’s May Crowning from Ascension Press

The Visitation through Mary’s Eyes from Ascension Press

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day

Happy Feast of St. Patrick’s Day!

We are here to celebrate with you. St. Patrick came from a rich family in England, but was kidnapped by pirates and taken to Ireland where he was forced to work for many years…

To find out more on his life story, here are a few activities for your family to enjoy.

Elementary School Activities:

Saint Patrick Coloring Page

St. Patrick Breastplate Craft

St. Patrick Puppet

Trinity Shamrock

Middle and High School Activities:

For children in middle or high school, check out the St. Patrick’s Day Saint Reflection. You can learn a bit about St. Patrick and reflect on his life and influence within the faith.

Below is the Irish Prayer that you can pray as a family:

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In the predictions of prophets,
In the preaching of apostles,
In the faith of confessors,
In the innocence of holy virgins,
In the deeds of righteous men.

I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.

I arise today, through
God’s strength to pilot me,
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.

I summon today
All these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel and merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul;
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me an abundance of reward.

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.

Amen.

Creating a Lenten Prayer Space

For some great information on creating a prayer space in the home check out this article: “Preparing a Prayer Space at Home”

Much like how in Church, we have different decor to help indicate which liturgical season we are celebrating (a wreathe and purple cloth for Advent, green for Ordinary time, and white and lilies for Easter), you too can model this within the home. 

At home, if you do not already have a prayer space, you can make one pretty easily with household objects. 

Set aside some space in the room, and put either a table or some sort of shelf. 

For Lent, you can put a purple cloth over the table. If you have some succulents or cacti, this can help remind us of the time that Jesus spent in the desert. Other items that would be helpful for this prayer space would be a crucifix, a Bible, sacred images and/or some candles. It does not need to be super elaborate, but having the space can help center your family during the prayer time.

When praying together as a family, circle around the prayer space, much like we face the altar and crucifix at Mass. If you have older kids, you can have them light the candles or dim the lights.