The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin

Fr Alban Butler's Lives of the Saints:

FROM the example of Christ, his blessed Mother, and the apostles, St. Thomas shows1 that state to be in itself the most perfect which unites together the functions of Martha and Mary, or of the active and contemplative life. This is undertaken by those persons who so employ themselves in the service of their neighbor, as amidst their external employs or conversation often to raise their minds to God, feeding always on their heavenly invisible food, as the angel did in Toby's company on earth. Who also, by the practice and love of daily recollection and much solitude, fit themselves to appear in public; and who by having learned the necessary art of silence in its proper season, and by loving to speak little among men,2 study to be in the first place their own friends, and by reflection and serious consideration to be thoroughly acquainted with themselves, and to converse often in heaven.3 Such will be able to accept external employees without prejudice to their own virtue, when called upon by duty, justice, or charity. They may avoid the snares of the world, and sanctify their conversation with men. Of this the Blessed Virgin is to us a perfect model in the visit paid to her cousin Elizabeth, as St. Francis of Sales takes notice, who borrowed from this mystery the name which he gave to his Order of nuns, who, according to the First of all, their institute was dedicated to visiting and caring for the sick.

The angel Gabriel, in the mystery of the Annunciation, informed the mother of God, that her cousin Elizabeth had miraculously conceived, and was then in the sixth month of her pregnancy. The Blessed Virgin, out of humility, concealed the favor she had received and the wonderful dignity to which she was raised by the incarnation of the Son of God in her womb; but in the transport of her holy joy and gratitude, she would go to congratulate the mother of the Baptist; with which resolution the Holy Ghost inspired her for his great designs of ella in favor of her Son's precursor of ella not yet born. Mary therefore rose, said St. Luke, and with haste went into the hilly-country into a city of Juda; and entering into the house of Zachary he greeted Elizabeth. She made this visit to a saint, because the company of the servants of God is mainly to be sought, from whose example and very silence the heart will always treasure up something, and the understanding receives some new light and improvement in charity. As glowing coals increase their flame by contact, so is the fire of divine love kindled in a fervent soul by the words and example of those who truly love God. In this journey what lessons of humility does the holy Virgin give us! She had been just saluted mother of God, and she exalted above all mere creatures, even the highest seraphim of heaven; yet far from being elated with the thoughts of her incomprehensible dignity, she appears but the most humble by it. She prevents the mother of the Baptist in this office of charity; the mother of God pays a visit to the mother of her Son's servant; the Redeemer of the world goes to his precursor. What a subject of confusion is this to the pride of the children of the world! who, not content with the rules of respect which the law of subordination requires, carry their vanity to an excess of ceremoniousness contrary even to good manners, and to the freedom of conversation, which they make an art of constraint and of torture both to themselves and others; and in which they seek not any duty of piety or improvement in virtue, but loathsome means of foolish flattery, the gratification of vanity, or that dissipation of mind which continually entertains it with trifles and idleness, and is an enemy to serious consideration and virtue .

When the office of charity called upon Mary, she thought of no dangers or difficulties in so painful and long a journey of above fourscore miles from Nazareth in Galilee to Hebron, a priestly city in the mountainous country on the western side of the tribe of Judah . The inspired writer takes notice that she went with haste or with speed and diligence, to express her eagerness to perform this good office. Charity knows not what sloth is, but she always acts with fervor. She likewise would have taken her steps out of modesty, not choosing to appear abroad, but as compelled by necessity or charity; not traveling out of vanity, idleness, or curiosity, but careful in her journey to shun the dissipation of the world, according to the remarks of St. Ambrose. Whence we may also gather with what care of her she kept her eyes of her, and what was the entertainment of her pious soul of her with God upon the road. Being arrived at the house of Zachary, she entered it, and greeted Elizabeth. What a blessing did the presence of the God-man bring to this house, the first which he honored in his humanity with his visit! But Mary is the instrument and means by which he imparts to him his divine blessing; to show us that she is a channel through which he delights to communicate to us his graces from her, and to encourage us to ask them of him through her intercession from her. At the voice of the mother of God, but by the power and grace of her Divine Son of her, in her womb of her, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost and the infant in her womb of her was sanctified; and miraculously anticipating the use of reason, she knew by divine inspiration the mystery of the incarnation, and who it was that she came to visit him. From this knowledge I have conceived so great, so extraordinary a joy as to leap and exult in the womb.* If Abraham and all the ancient prophets exulted only to foresee in spirit that day when it was at the distance of so many ages, what wonder the little Baptist felt so great a joy to see it then present! How eagerly did he desire to take up his office of precursor, and already to announce to men their Redeemer that he might be known and adored by all! But how do we think he adored and revered him present in his mother's womb? and what were the blessings with which he was favored by him? He was cleansed from original sin, and filled with sanctifying grace, he was made a prophet, and adored the Messiah before he was yet born.

At the same time Elizabeth was similarly filled with the Holy Ghost; and by his light infused with her, she understood the great mystery of the Incarnation which God had wrought in Mary, whom humility prevented from disclosing it even to a saint, and an intimate friend. In raptures of astonishment, Elizabeth pronounced her blessed above all other women, she being made by God the instrument of his blessing to the world, and of removing the malediction which through Eve had been entailed on mankind. But the fruit of her womb she called blessed in a sense still infinitely higher, he being the immense source of all graces, by whom only Mary herself was blessed. Elizabeth, then turning her eyes upon herself, cried out— Whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? She herself had conceived a barren and by a miracle; but Mary, a virgin, and by the Holy Ghost; she conceived one greater than the prophets, but Mary the eternal Son of God, himself true God. The Baptist, her son, used the like exclamation to express his confusion and humility when Christ came to be baptized by his hands. In such words and profound sentiments we ought to receive all the visits of God in his graces, especially in the holy sacraments. Elizabeth styles Mary, Mother of her Lord, that is, mother of God; and she foretells that all things would fall upon her and her Son which had been spoken by the prophets.

Mary, hearing her own praise, sunk the lower into the abyss of her nothingness, and convening all good gifts to the glory of God, whose gratuitous mercy had bestowed them, in the transport of her humility, and melting in an ecstasy of love and gratitude , burst into that admirable canticle called the Magnificat. It is the first record in the New Testament, and both in the noble sentiments which it composes, and in the majesty of the style, it surpasses all those of the ancient prophets. It is the most perfect model of thanksgiving and praise for the incarnation of the Son of God, and the most precious monument of the profound humility of Mary. In it she glorifies God with all the powers of her soul for his boundless mercies, and gives to him alone all the glory. In the spiritual gladness of her heart she adores her Savior, who had cast his merciful eyes upon her lowliness. Though all nations will call her blessed, she declares that nothing is her due to her but abjection from her, and that this mystery is the effect of the pure power and mercy of God; and that he who had dethroned tyrants, fed the hungry in the wilderness, and wrought so many wonders in favor of his people, had now vouchsafed himself to visit them, to live among them, to die for them, and to fulfill all things which he had promised by his prophets from the beginning. Mary stayed with her cousin for almost three months; after which she returned to Nazareth.

While with the Church we praise God for the mercies and wonders which he wrought in this mystery, we ought to apply ourselves to the imitation of the virtues of which Mary sets us a perfect example. From her we ought particularly to learn the lessons by which we shall sanctify our visits and conversation; actions which are for so many Christians the sources of innumerable dangers and sins. We must shun not only scurrilous and profane discourse, but whatever is idle, light, airy, or unprofitable; whilst we unbend our minds, we ought as much as possible to see that conversation which is conducive to the improvement of our hearts or understandings, and to the advancement of virtue and solid useful knowledge. If we suffer our mind to be puffed up with empty wind, it will become itself such as is the nourishment upon which it feeds. We should shun the vice of talkativeness, did we but consult that detestable vanity itself which betrays us into this folly. For nothing is more tyrannical or more odious and unsupportable in company than to usurp a monopoly of discourse. Nothing can degrade us more in the opinion of others than for us to be just, as they were, by the word; to reveal all we have in our hearts, at least a great deal that we ought to conceal there; and without understanding ourselves, or taking a review of our meaning or words, to pour out embryos of half-formed conceptions, and speak of the most noble subjects in an undress of thoughts. What proofs of our vanity and folly, what disgraces, what perplexities, what detractions, and other evils and sins should we avoid, if we were but sparing and reserved in our words! If we find ourselves swelled with an itch of talking, big with our own thoughts, and impatient to give them vent, we must by silence curb this dangerous passion, and learn to be masters of our words.