The Festival of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Posted on July 2, 2025 by under
Scripture: St. Luke 1:39-56 (NKJV)
1:39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
46 And Mary said:
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 “and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 “For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49 “For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.
50 “And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
51 “He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 “He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.
53 “He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.
54 “He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy,
55 “as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.”
56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.
Devotion
The child of Elizabeth is the unborn John the Baptist. Later, when John is circumcised, his father Zacharias will prophesy of him, “you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways” (Luke 1:76). While yet unborn, John is already preparing the way of the Lord by testifying to the presence of Jesus in the womb of Mary.
This passage is a powerful proof text for the baptism of children. The fact that John leaps for joy in his mother’s womb shows that it is possible for infants—even unborn infants—to have saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And, consequently, the Church baptizes infants because they are able to receive salvation by faith. We do not say that the child is saved by the faith of his parents, but that he is saved by his own faith, worked in him by the Holy Spirit through the Word and Baptism. Someone may object, however, that John the Baptist was an exception because Jesus was bodily present nearby. But Jesus is also present as Man and God in the Word, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper, for He promises, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20).
Collect: Almighty God, Who hast dealt wonderfully with Thy handmaiden, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and hast chosen her to be the mother of Thy Son, and hast graciously made known that Thou regardest the poor and the lowly and the despised: Grant us grace in all humility and meekness to receive Thy Word with hearty faith, and so to be made one with Thy dear Son; Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Second Sunday after Trinity Sunday
O Lord, Who never failest to help and govern those whom Thou dost bring up in Thy steadfast fear and love: Make us to have a perpetual fear and love of Thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
