The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

May 31 – The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary –

The Visitation is the visit of Mary with Elizabeth as recorded in the Gospel of Luke 1:39-56. Here Mary sings the Magnificat. It is celebrated on May 31 in the West (July 2 in calendars of the 1263-1969 period and in the modern regional calendar of Germany) and March 30 in the East.  At St. Augustine’s House the church is named “The Church of the Visitation” as the original building was dedicated on the old date, July 2.

Almighty God,
by whose grace Elizabeth rejoiced with Mary
and greeted her as the mother of the Lord:
look with favor, we beseech thee, on thy lowly servants,
that, with Mary, we may magnify thy holy name
and rejoice to acclaim her Son our Savior,
who liveth and reigneth with thee,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

image: The “Magnificat” window at the Church of the Reconciliation, Taizé, France