The Catholic Defender: The Visitation 2nd Joyful Mystery of the Rosary

"During those days 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.”

The Canticle of Mary.

"And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home."

Consider that the Virgin Mary traveled into the hill country and stayed there for three months in the house of Zachariah, 2 Samuel 6 vs 11 states, "The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household." Both of these examples show that the ark of the Lord went into the Hill country of Judea and stayed for three months.

Consider what St. Elizabeth said to Mary, "And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" King David made an interesting statement, "David became frightened of the LORD that day, and he said, “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?” This is called a "typology" showing a spiritual connection of truth.

John the Baptist from his mother's womb began to dance as the Archangel Gabriel foretold to Zachariah. 2 Samuel 6:5 states, "while David and all the house of Israel danced before the LORD with all their might, with singing, and with lyres, harps, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals." There was dancing before both arks of the Lord.

The ark of the covenant was entirely covered with gold. In it were the gold jar containing the manna, the staff of Aaron that had sprouted, and the tablets of the covenant. What did the Ark of the New Covenant contain? The King of Kings who is the Bread of Life. What was in the ark of the covenant pointed to who was within the Ark of the New Covenant.

Gold is the symbol of the purity of the medals, interestingly, the Virgin Mary is the only person outside of Jesus, who was made pure to be the Mother of Jesus. Her soul Magnifies the Lord, something we do well to imitate her. She is the Immaculate Conception and she intercedes for us as Queen of Heaven.

Mary stayed with St. Elizabeth at least until the birth of St. John the Baptist who would be the for-runner, the herald of Jesus. St. Elizabeth married into the Temple tradition, Zechariah was of the priestly division of Abijah; St. Elizabeth was from the daughters of Aaron. There were 24 Divisions and Zechariah was in the Temple (Luke 1:10) during Yom Kippur doing his priestly duty. Because Zechariah doubted the angels word he would be mute until the naming of John the Baptist.

While serving in Iraq, I was challenged by an Iraqi who asked me why we call Mary, "Mother of God"? I responded back with a question of my own, "What is the difference between Mary being called "Mother of God" compared to "Mother of my Lord"? Clearly, there was no difference, Adonai (my Lord) was what people referred to God in the Old Testament.

St. John gives an interesting vision with the ark of the covenant and the Virgin Mary: "The nations raged, but your wrath has come, and the time for the dead to be judged, and to recompense your servants, the prophets, and the holy ones and those who fear your name, the small and the great alike, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a violent hailstorm." (Revelation 11:18-19) Then Revelation 12:1-2 becomes center stage in the vision, "A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman* clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth." (Revelation 12:1-2

You know who that wonderful child is, He is Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.