The Visitation shows Mary’s humility and charity St. Frances de Sales shows how the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth illustrates the truth that humility and charity go together. Our Lady was not satisfied with having humbled herself before the divine Majesty, for she well knew that humility and charity are not in their perfection until they are transmitted to their neighbor. From the love of God pro- ceeds love of neighbor, and the great apostle says that the greatness of... Read more
The Visitation shows us the effects of the Spirit St. Frances de Sales points out how the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth dem- onstrates the effects of the Holy Spirit’s presence and activity. Our Lady went to visit St. Elizabeth; but this visit was not useless nor like those which women of the world very often make solely for ceremony, to testify the deepest affections which they do not feel, and during them they fre- quently gossip about each other... Read more
The first fruits of redemption passed through Mary St. Alphonsus explains how Mary’s visit to St. Elizabeth reveals that the very first fruits of her Son’s redemption came through her as a channel, and all the other fruits have come to us in the same way. When Mary reached the house of her kinswoman, she greeted her cousin Elizabeth (see Lk 1:40). St. Ambrose here remarks that Mary was the first to greet her. But Mary’s visit was not at... Read more
Amy Welborn has worked as a teacher in Catholic high schools, and a Parish Director of Religious Education. She started writing for the diocesan press – the Florida Catholic – in 1988. Amy has written columns for Our Sunday Visitor and Catholic News Service as well at times over the past twenty years. I’ve been writing full time since 1999. Her articles have been published in venues ranging from Our Sunday Visitor to the New York Times to Commonweal. Amy has written nineteen books and many pamphlets and study... Read more
Visit the poor house of my soul St. Alphonsus urges Our Lady to come visit his soul in the same way she visited St. Elizabeth, bringing abundant graces with her. Immaculate and Blessed Virgin, I will always thank my Lord for having granted me the grace to know you. Oh, my Queen! You hurried so quickly to visit St. Elizabeth, and in that way you sanctified her dwelling. Deign, then, to visit, and visit quickly, the poor house of my... Read more
Mary hurried to bring graces to Elizabeth’s house Just as Mary went to bring blessings to her cousin’s house, St. Alphonsus points out, so she hurries to bring blessings to every home that receives her. A family that is visited by a royal personage considers itself fortunate, on account of both the honor that comes from such a visit, and the benefits that may be hoped to come from it later. But the soul that is visited by the Queen... Read more
A meditation on the Visitation St. Alphonsus explains that St. Elizabeth knew what we should know: Whenever Mary comes, she brings her Son. Jesus was the fruit of Mary, as St. Elizabeth told her: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Lk 1:42). Whoever, then, desires the fruit must go to the tree; whoever desires Jesus must go to Mary; and whoever finds Mary will most certainly find Jesus. St. Elizabeth saw that the... Read more
This week Ave Maria Press sponsors the CBB giveaway. One lucky winner will receive a copy of John Paul II’s Biblical Way of the Cross by Amy Welborn and Michael Dubriel. A second lucky winner will receive a copy of Stations of the Cross with the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus by Rev. William Prosper, S.J. and edited by Father James Kubicki (you can read the review of both here) . I use Rafflecopter to run my giveaways which makes it simple for you and me!... Read more
Mary hoped in God Mary demonstrated her hope, St. Alphonsus points out, when she saw St. Joseph’s anxiety. Hope takes its rise in faith. For God enlightens us by faith to know his goodness and the promises he has made, so that by this knowledge we may rise by hope to the desire of possessing him. Since Mary had the virtue of faith to its highest degree, she also had hope to the same degree of excellence. She could say... Read more
The Stations of the Cross is a popular devotion that many take advantage of during the Lenten season. It is an ancient practice used to commemorate fourteen stations or events Christ experienced during his Passion. Ave Maria Press has two valuable resources available to aid in this devotion and I will cover them here. John Paul II’s Biblical Way of the Cross Amy Welborn and Michael Dubriel present their version of the Stations by utilizing the format created by Saint... Read more
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