Fr. Roger J. Landry
Irish Chapel of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican
Pilgrimage for American Journalists
Feast of the Visitation
May 31, 2016
Zeph 3:14-18, Is 12:2-6, Lk 1:39-56
To listen to an audio recording of today’s homily, please click below:
The following points were attempted in the homily:
- Mary went with haste to visit her elderly cousin Elizabeth. The Archangel didn’t encourage or command her to go; as soon as she identified a need, she raced to be there, taking Jesus in his first few days, at the blastocyst stage, to visit Elizabeth, and forming him in the womb to become the itinerant preacher he would become. And it was there that she announced the joy of her magnified soul and rejoicing spirit at what the Lord in his mercy had done for her in her humility.
- Mary likewise comes to us. She did it in Guadalupe, Lourdes and Fatima, but does so mysteriously as our mother even though we cannot perceive her. She comes to our aid with maternal love.
- And she wants to give us her Son so that he can transform us in such a way that we will go out to bring Jesus to others. Today at this Mass, we receive within the same Jesus she carried within her womb, and Mary is praying that we, with urgency, will go to bring him to others.
The readings for today’s Mass were:
Reading 1 ZEP 3:14-18A
Sing joyfully, O Israel!
Be glad and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
The LORD has removed the judgment against you,
he has turned away your enemies;
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst,
you have no further misfortune to fear.
On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!
The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
He will sing joyfully because of you,
as one sings at festivals.
Responsorial Psalm ISAIAH 12:2-3, 4BCD, 5-6
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
R. Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
R. Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
R. Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
Alleluia SEE LK 1:45
Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK 1:39-56
Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”
And Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.”
Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.
