The Feast of the Visitation: Mary, Elizabeth, and God's Faithfulness

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The Feast of the Visitation (full title: The Visitation of the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth and Zechariah), celebrated on May 31st, commemorates the joyful meeting between the Virgin Mary and her cousin Elizabeth as recorded in the Gospel of Luke.

Following the Annunciation, Mary journeyed to the hill country of Judea to visit Elizabeth, who was miraculously expecting John the Baptist in her old age. What unfolds is one of the most beautiful encounters in all of Scripture—a moment filled with joy, recognition, prophecy, and praise.

The Visitation reveals God’s faithfulness at work through two faithful women. It is a feast that celebrates the fulfillment of God’s promises, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the recognition of Christ even before his birth. It is also a reminder of the beauty of Christian fellowship as Mary and Elizabeth rejoice together in the marvelous works of God.

At the center of this feast are Elizabeth’s prophetic greeting and Mary’s Magnificat, a hymn of praise that has been prayed by Christians for centuries.

The Visitation in Scripture

After the angel Gabriel announced that she would conceive by the Holy Spirit and bear the Son of God, Mary set out “with haste” to the hill country of Judea to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was six months pregnant with John the Baptist. Luke tells us that Mary remained with Elizabeth for three months.

Upon Mary’s arrival, something extraordinary occurred. Elizabeth’s unborn child leaped within her womb, recognizing the presence of Christ. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth proclaimed:

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”— Luke 1:42–45

These words are remarkable. Before Jesus was born, Elizabeth recognized him as Lord and Messiah. Through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, she perceives what no human eye could yet see.

Her greeting also forms part of the prayer Christians have prayed for centuries in the Hail Mary:

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”

The Visitation is therefore both a deeply personal family encounter and a profound theological revelation.

The Magnificat

Mary responds to Elizabeth’s greeting with one of the most beloved hymns in all of Scripture, the Magnificat.

Named from the opening word of the Latin translation, Magnificat anima mea Dominum (”My soul magnifies the Lord”), this canticle is Mary’s joyful response to God’s grace and faithfulness.

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; For he has regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed; For he that is mighty has magnified me, and holy is his Name. And his mercy is on those who fear him, throughout all generations. He has shown the strength of his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has brought down the mighty from their thrones,and has exalted the humble and meek. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. He, remembering his mercy, has helped his servant Israel, as he promised to our fathers, Abraham and his seed for ever. - Luke 1:46-55

The Magnificat is both intensely personal and profoundly universal. Mary praises God for what he has done in her own life, but she also proclaims his faithfulness throughout salvation history. Her song celebrates God’s mercy, justice, and unwavering commitment to his covenant promises.

The themes of reversal that appear throughout the canticle, the humble being exalted, the hungry being filled, and the proud being scattered, point to the coming kingdom of God inaugurated through Christ.

Canticles of Faithfulness

The Magnificat is one of the Church’s most treasured canticles. A canticle is a psalm-like hymn drawn directly from Scripture, and the Magnificat has been prayed by Christians since the earliest centuries of the Church. It is also known as the Song of Mary, the Canticle of Mary, and in the Byzantine tradition, the Ode of the Theotokos.

It is one of four great hymns found within the infancy narratives of Luke’s Gospel:

The Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55)
The Benedictus, or Song of Zechariah (Luke 1:67–79)
The Gloria in Excelsis Deo, sung by the angels (Luke 2:13–14)
The Nunc Dimittis, or Song of Simeon (Luke 2:28–32)

These ancient hymns became central to Christian worship and eventually found a permanent place within the Liturgy of the Hours and later within the Daily Office of the Book of Common Prayer.

Patterned after the hymns of praise found throughout the Psalms, they proclaim God’s mercy, justice, faithfulness, and the fulfillment of his promises to Israel.

For nearly two thousand years, Christians have joined their voices with Mary, Zechariah, the angels, and Simeon in praising God through these sacred songs.

The Magnificat as Thanksgiving

Because of its themes of praise and thanksgiving, the Magnificat became closely associated with Evening Prayer and Vespers.

As the day draws to a close, Christians have traditionally prayed Mary’s song in gratitude for God’s faithfulness and providential care.

Today it continues to be sung and prayed throughout the world, especially during Advent when the Church reflects upon the events surrounding Christ’s incarnation.

The Magnificat serves a rich catechetical purpose. It teaches believers about God’s holiness, mercy, justice, and covenant faithfulness. It reminds us that God lifts up the humble, remembers his promises, and works throughout history to accomplish his purposes.

As Christians pray these words repeatedly, they are formed by them. Mary’s song becomes our song.

The Meaning of the Visitation

The Visitation is far more than a family reunion. It is a passage filled with rich theological significance that reveals God’s redemptive plan unfolding before our eyes.

Recognition of Jesus as the Messiah

Elizabeth’s greeting is one of the earliest confessions of Jesus as Lord. Before his birth, Jesus was recognized as the promised Messiah. Elizabeth’s declaration, “the mother of my Lord,” affirms both Christ’s identity and Mary’s unique role within salvation history.

The Church has long seen in this passage a confirmation of Mary’s title as Theotokos, the God-bearer or Mother of God, not because Mary is the source of Christ’s divinity, but because the child she carries is fully God and fully man.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

Luke emphasizes the active work of the Holy Spirit throughout this encounter:

Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit upon hearing Mary’s greeting and is given divine insight into the identity of Mary’s child.
John the Baptist responds to Christ’s presence by leaping within the womb.
Mary herself responds with a Spirit-inspired hymn of praise that magnifies God’s greatness and faithfulness.

The Visitation reminds us that the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to recognize Christ and empowers us to proclaim God’s mighty works.

Mary as the New Ark of the Covenant

One of the most beautiful theological themes within the Visitation is the connection between Mary and the Ark of the Covenant.

In the Old Testament, the Ark was the sacred dwelling place of God’s presence among his people. It contained the tablets of the Law, the jar of manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded.

The Church has long seen these items as foreshadowing Christ:

The Tablets of the Law: Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law.
The Jar of Manna: Jesus is the Bread of Life.
Aaron’s Rod: Jesus is our eternal High Priest.

Just as the Ark carried God’s presence, Mary carries Christ himself within her womb.

Luke’s account contains striking parallels to 2 Samuel 6. When David encounters the Ark, he exclaims:

“How can the ark of the Lord come to me?”

Elizabeth echoes these words when she asks:

“Why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

The parallels continue. The Ark remained in the house of Obed-Edom for three months, bringing blessing to the household. Likewise, Mary remains with Elizabeth for three months, and her presence brings blessing and joy.

Both accounts are marked by rejoicing, divine presence, and God’s blessing upon his people.

The Importance of Community

The Visitation also reminds us of the importance of Christian community. Mary and Elizabeth are united by God’s calling and favor. Together they marvel at what God is doing and encourage one another in faith. The Holy Spirit brings them together not for competition or comparison, but for mutual joy and support.

In a culture that often prizes individualism, the Visitation reminds us that God frequently works through relationships and community. We are called to rejoice together, pray together, and bear witness together to God’s faithfulness.

A Foretaste of the Church’s Mission

The Visitation also foreshadows the mission of the Church. Elizabeth’s prophetic greeting and Mary’s Magnificat both proclaim God’s saving work in Christ. Together they bear witness to the coming Messiah before his birth.

In this way, the Visitation anticipates the Church’s ongoing mission to recognize, celebrate, and proclaim God’s presence in the world.

Like Mary, we are called to carry Christ into the world.
Like Elizabeth, we are called to recognize and rejoice in God’s work.
And like both women, we are called to proclaim his faithfulness with joy.

Ways to Celebrate:

Read Luke 1:39–56

Spend time reading and meditating on the account of the Visitation. Pay special attention to Elizabeth’s greeting and Mary’s Magnificat.

Pray the Magnificat

Incorporate the Magnificat into your prayer life by praying it during Evening Prayer or as part of your personal devotions.

Gather with Friends

Because the Visitation celebrates fellowship and shared joy in God’s goodness, consider inviting friends or family to gather together and celebrate the day.

Listen to Sacred Music

Listen to The Magnificat by John Michael Talbot or another musical setting of Mary’s canticle.

Bake a Blueberry Galette

Since blue is traditionally associated with the Virgin Mary, a blueberry galette makes a fitting and festive treat for the feast. Galettes are simple rustic pastries filled with fruit, sugar, and butter, a beautiful way to celebrate the day with family and friends.

As we celebrate the Feast of the Visitation, may we join Mary and Elizabeth in recognizing God’s presence, rejoicing in his faithfulness, and proclaiming his mighty works. May their example encourage us to magnify the Lord with our lives and trust in the fulfillment of his promises.

the recipe -

Blueberry Galette

Crust:

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, frozen
¼ cup ice water

Filling:

4 cups blueberries
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 tbsp lemon zest
2 tbsp lemon juice

Egg wash:

1 egg
1 tbsp milk

For the pastry:

Add the 2 1/2 cups flour, sugar, and salt into a food processor. Give it a few pulses.
Cut COLD butter into tbsp-sized pieces. Transfer to a food processor and pulse until the butter is cut into small lentil-sized clumps.
Slowly drizzle in about 1/4 cup of the ice water while pulsing the processor. If the mixture doesn’t hold together when you squeeze a clump in your hand, add a bit more water and pulse.
Transfer the dough onto a pastry mat or sheet of plastic wrap and knead 2-3 times to help it come together a bit. Gently flatten into a one-inch-thick disk, cover with plastic wrap, and chill for an hour.
Once your pie crust is chilled, preheat the oven to 425 F. Remove the dough from the fridge and let it warm up on the counter for a few minutes; this will prevent cracking. Roll the pie crust to about 1/4 of an inch and transfer it to a baking sheet.

For the filling:

In a bowl, gently stir together the berries, lemon juice, zest, sugar, and flour.

For the assembly:

In a small bowl, lightly beat the egg with a tablespoon of cream.
Spoon the filling onto the dough, leaving a 2-3 inch border uncovered around the edge. Fold the edge up and over the filling, forming loose pleats. Brush pastry with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar if desired.
Bake at 425 F until the filling is bubbling and the pastry is golden brown (about 25 minutes).

Recipe from Preppy Kitchen.