Saturday, May 31, 2008

The Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

"Particles" taken from New Advent.org. This event is spoken about in Luke 1:39-57, when Mary inspired by charity to go to Hebron, south of Jerusalem, to care for her cousin Elizabeth, because her presence and much more at the presence of the Divine Child in her womb, according to the will of God, was to be the source of very great graces to the Blessed John, Christ's Forerunner.
Feeling the presence of his Divine Savior upon the arrival of Mary, John leaped in the womb of his mother, he was therefore cleansed of original sin and filled the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Our Lady now for the first exercised the office which belonged to the Mother of God made man, that He might by her mediation sanctify and glorify us.
St. Joseph may have travelled with Mary to Hebron, returned to Nazareth, and after three months, came again to Hebron to take his wife home, it may have happened that the apparition of the angel, mentioned in Matthew 1:19-25, may have taken place to end the tormenting doubts of Joseph regarding the maternity of Mary.

The earliest evidence of the feast is its adoption by the Franciscan Chapter in 1263, upon the advice of St. Bonaventure. With the Franciscan Breviary, the feast spread to many churches, but was celebrated at various dates.
It was extended to the entire Church by Pope Urban VI, 6 April, 1389, with the hope that Christ and His Mother would visit the Church and put an end to the Great Schism which rent the seamless garment of Christ.

Morning Prayer
Ant. 1 Blessed are you, Mary, because you believed that the Lord's words to you would be fulfilled.

Evening Prayer
Ant. 2 Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

Our Diocese of Steubenville in under the Patronage of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and today is our feast day, please pray for us, pray for unity.
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.......

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