Visitatio

 

Continuing the usage of the Gospel according to St. Luke, in particular the first chapter verses 39-45 (1:39-45). St. Elizabeth, the Blessed Virgin Mary's cousin who was known to be barren, but is now pregnant with St. John the Baptist in her old age. The Blessed Virgin Mary's travels through the hills of Judea is resemblant of the Ark of the Covenant as it makes its way to Jerusalem before King David. 

The scriptural similarities point to the nature of Mary, in the sense of being the Ark of the New Covenant, since Jesus Christ is the New Covenant, just as His precious blood is the Blood of the New Covenant, and His body is the Body of the Covenant. The two, body and blood, separated are the symbolized death of the sacrifice that occurs at every establishment of a covenant throughout the Bible, granted His actual death came shortly after that. Mary is the ark, Jesus is the New Covenant established between Man and God.

The similarities are as follows:

1. 2 Samuel 6:9 - And David was afraid of the Lord that day, saying: How shall the ark of the Lord come to me?
1. Luke 1:43 - And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
2. 2 Samuel 6:14,16 - And David danced with all his might before the Lord: and David was girded with a linen ephod. … King David leaping and dancing before the Lord
1. 1 Chronicles 15:29 - And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord was come to the city of David, Michol the daughter of Saul looking out at a window, saw king David dancing and playing
1. Luke 1:44 - For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
3. 2 Samuel 6:10-11 - And he would not have the ark of the Lord brought in to himself into the city of David: but he caused it to be carried into the house of Obededom the Gethite. And the ark of the Lord abode in the house of Obededom the Gethite three months: and the Lord blessed Obededom, and all his household.
1. Luke 1:39, 56 - And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda ... And Mary abode with her about three months; and she returned to her own house.

The Scriptural Rosary to better meditate on the mystery is as follows, and the Fruit of the mystery is: Love of Neighbor. As we meditate on the mystery and we get a better sense of the love Mary had for her cousin, to pack up and run right out to her cousin at the notice of her being pregnant is a strong love, a selfless love where we care for one another.

1. The Second Joyful Mystery: The Visitation
1. Pater Noster … 
2. And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda. And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth. (Luke 1:39-40)
1. Ave Maria …
3. And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost (Luke 1: 41)
1. Ave Maria …
4. And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. (Luke 1:42)
1. Ave Maria …
5. And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord (Luke 1:45)
1. Ave Maria …
6. And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; (Luke 1:46-48a)
1. Ave Maria …
7. For behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed; Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me (Luke 1: 48b-49a)
1. Ave Maria …
8. And holy is his name. And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him. (Luke 1:49b-50)
1. Ave Maria …
9. He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. (Luke 1:51)
1. Ave Maria …
10. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. (Luke 1:52)
1. Ave Maria …
11. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. (Luke 1:53)
1. Ave Maria …
12. O My Jesus … 
13. Gloria Patri …