Mary hurried to bring graces to Elizabeth’s house, Mary: Day 207

Last updated on: February 13, 2016 at 3:30 am by Pete Socks

Mary hurried to bring graces to Elizabeth’s house, Mary: Day 207 2016-01-02T10:32:46-05:00 Pete Socks

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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 of the World, the most holy Virgin Mary, should consider itself still more fortunate. For she can’t help but fill with riches and graces those blessed souls whom she deigns to visit with her favors.

In Old Testament times, a home was blessed when visited by the Ark of God (see 1 Sam 13:14). How much greater blessings, then, will enrich those who receive a loving visit from this living Ark of God—for such was the Mother of God! This truth was abundantly experienced by the house of St. John the Bap- tist. As soon as Mary had entered it, she heaped graces and heavenly blessings on the whole family. For this reason, the Feast of the Visitation is commonly called the feast of “Our Blessed Lady of Graces.”

After the Blessed Virgin heard from the archangel Gabriel that her kinswoman St. Elizabeth was six months pregnant, she was enlightened within by the Holy Spirit. He showed Mary that the incarnate Word, who had become her Son, was pleased then to manifest to the world the riches of his mercy in the first graces that he desired to impart to all that family. So without delay, accord- ing to St. Luke, “Mary arose and went with haste to the hill country” (Lk 1:39). Rising from the quiet of contemplation to which she was always devoted, and leaving her beloved solitude, she immediately set out for the home of St. Eliza- beth. “Love bears all things” (1 Cor 13:7) and won’t allow delay; as St. Ambrose remarks on this Gospel passage, “The Holy Spirit knows nothing of slow under- takings.” So without even considering the difficulty of the journey, this tender Virgin immediately undertook it. —St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
What kind of blessings is my home most in need of today? Have I asked Mary’s help in bringing those blessings to my family?

CLOSING PRAYER
Blessed Mother, I consecrate my home to you and to your Son. Come quickly to bring us the blessings and graces that we need to live as a family of his true disciples.

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