Meditation;
Feast of the Visitation
by
Saint Alphonsus Liguori
First Meditation
Mary set out from Nazareth to go to
the city of Judea, in which Saint Elizabeth resided; a distance
according to Broccardus, of upwards of seventy
miles, or at least seven days
journey. Her spouse Saint Joseph
alone accompanied her. The holy and tender
Virgin hastened her
steps, as Saint Luke tells us: "Mary, rising up
in those days, went into the hill country with haste". Tell us, O
Lady, why didst thou
undertake so long and
arduous a journey, and why didst thou
so hasten thy steps? "I
went", she replies, "to
exercise my office of charity; I went to console a family".
 Since then, O great Mother of God,
thy office is to console and dispense graces to souls, ah, be graciously
pleased also to visit and console my soul. Thy visit sanctified the house of
Elizabeth; come, O Mary, and sanctify me also.
Amen
Second Meditation
Behold, the Blessed Virgin
is already arrived at the house of Elizabeth.
She was the Mother of
God, but yet was the
first to salute Elizabeth, "and
she entered . . . and saluted Elizabeth". Elizabeth,
enlightened by
God, knew that the Divine Word had become
man, that He had become the
Son of
Mary; therefore she called
her blessed among women, and
blessed the Divine fruit
which she carried in
her womb: "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb".
At the same time, filled with confusion and joy, she exclaimed: "And
whence is this to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?"
But what does the humble
Mary reply to these words?
She says: "My soul
doth magnify the Lord"; as if she
had said, "Ah Elizabeth, thou dost praise me, but I
praise my God, Who hath graciously pleased to exalt me, who am his poor servant,
to the dignity of being His Mother". "He
hath regarded the humility of His handmaid".
O most holy Mary, since thou
dispensest so many graces to those who ask thee for them, I beseech thee to
grant me thy humility. Thou esteemest thyself as nothing before God; but I
am worse than nothing, for I am a sinner. Thou canst make me humble; do so
for the love of that God Who made thee His Mother.
Amen
Third Meditation
But what took place at the first sound
of the voice of Mary saluting Elizabeth?
"When Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the
infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost".
The infant John exulted with joy on account of the
Divine grace which was then conferred upon
him. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost;
and Zachary, the father of the Baptist, had shortly afterwards the
consolation of recovering his speech.
So that it is indeed true, O my
Queen and Mother, that it is through thee that Divine graces are dispensed,
and through thee that souls are sanctified. Then, my own most dear Queen, do
not forget me thy poor servant; for I love thee and have placed all my hopes
in thee. Thy prayers are ever graciously heard by God, Who loves thee so
much. Hasten therefore, my Mother; pray for me, and make me a saint.
Amen
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