Mary Stops By When You Least Expect
Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
My dear encountered couples:
I wonder if Mary phoned ahead or sent a message of some other kind to Elizabeth before she arrived at her front door, emailed her maybe. Whether she did or did not – the reaction of Elizabeth seems to have been one of surprise, and her greeting certainly was unexpected by Mary. “Blessed are you among women,” Elizabeth exclaimed when Mary walked in the door, “and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”
I’ve been overwhelmed by greetings people have extended to me, but I don’t recall ever having been acclaimed “blessed.” The arrival of Mary must have really had an effect on Elizabeth. Does that happen to you when Mary stops by? She does, you know. And when you least expect.
Mary is your mother, your heavenly mother, your spiritual mother, the mother of your soul. Like your biological mother often went into your bedroom to check on you at night, especially when you cried and it was feeding time, Mary looks in on all her children regularly. Though we might wonder how she who has so many children can care for all of them who are spread throughout the world, Mary has that gift. She can even do her mothering thing in several places at the same time. There is no whimpering you do that she does not hear, no pain you feel that she is not right there to put some salve on. Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth to help her with the birth of her child, John. Is Mary not present with every mother when they are giving birth? Children, young and old, especially sons, think often of their mothers, living or dead. Our mothers are like in us, a part of us, throughout us. So is Mary. Turn your thoughts to her often; try to visualize her standing at your door. Greet her, express your love for her, and thank her for being “who and what she is” to you. You can say, “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” The visitation of Mary wasn’t just a onetime thing. It happens every day - to you.
