A reflection on Wisdom 18:15, Luke 1:39-45, John 3:29
Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
©️2022 Gloria M. Chang
…your all-powerful word leapt from heaven, from the royal throne, into the midst of the land that was doomed…
Wisdom 18:15 (New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised)
During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “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 1:39-45
He who has the bride is the bridegroom; the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice; therefore this joy of mine is now full.
John 3:29 (Revised Standard Version)
The Word of God leapt from heaven,
Taking flesh in Mary’s womb.
Unborn John leapt with abandon
As the friend of the Bridegroom.
Traditional Chinese Translation
《我子宮裡的嬰兒喜悅地跳躍》
上帝的道從天躍下，
在馬利亞的腹中化成肉身。
作為新郎的朋友，
尚未出生的約翰忘情地跳躍著。
Dear GMC, thank you for helping us set our sights on our Lord with your beautiful poem. It inspires us to live as people who, like Mary and the unborn John, are in love with God and His friends forever. Happy Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary!
Happy Feast of the Visitation, fdan!
“Blessed are those who hear the word of God, alleluia.
-And cherish it in their hearts, alleluia.”
Liturgy of the Hours, Feast of the Visitation, Midmorning Prayer, Responsory
Thank you, dear Gloria, for sharing your love of and devotion to Mary with us. In my journey, this has helped me want to come to know Mary more and cherish and pray to her like never before. Your Marian reflections add such dimension to my Rosary meditations. Now, when I pray the Rosary, I picture Mary holding my hand and leading me to Jesus. God bless you, dear Gloria.
We had a beautiful procession to the Mary Garden today at the Passionist Monastery in Jamaica, NY. May Mary Immaculata enfold us in her heart!
Quickly stepping over hill and dale,
Missioned by the Holy Spirit,
Eager to tell the Good News,
Mary is ever steadfast without fail.
Like God’s missionary, may we imitate,
Her trust and obey rapid response,
When we hear the will of God,
Running on faith fuel, eager to cooperate.
“The mystery of the Visitation is an icon, which the Church contemplates on the last day of May. From the meeting between the Virgin Mary and her cousin Elizabeth we see the Magnificat, the song of a people visited by grace.”
– Homily of Pope Leo XIV, 31 May 2025