The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Mary, newly pregnant, rushes off to visit her cousin Elisabeth who is also miraculously pregnant. It is by the way no small journey - a vulnerable young woman even if very fit would take a week to walk the distance. Never mind doing so suffering first trimester morning sickness and tiredness! Upon her arrival, John the Baptist leaps in his mother's womb for shear joy at the presence of the baby Jesus. Both mothers rejoice, and Luke produces one of the most complete hymns of joy we have - the Magnificat. This is itself built from a collection of Psalms and other texts and shows that Luke had a mastery of scripture as well as composition. In his poem we can truly sense the joy Mary experiences.

We should be full of the same joy every evening, as the church reads the magnificat as part of evening prayer. Even if you do not have time to do the whole office (or if you do not know what it is) at least, pray this at the end of the working day:

‘My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

And his mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

and exalted those of humble estate;

he has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

as he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his offspring for ever.’

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He who is mighty has done great things for me; he has exalted those of humble estate.