The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth 	May 31
The visit of Mary to Elizabeth is an incident found only in the first chapter of Luke’s Gospel (Luke 1:39-56). The angel Gabriel first announces to Zechariah the miraculous birth of John the Baptist, and then six months later announces to Mary the miraculous birth of Jesus. When Elizabeth discovers she is pregnant, she goes into hiding (Luke 1:24,25). Mary is told that Elizabeth is pregnant (Luke 1:36,37). It is in response to God’s promises that she now goes to see her relative Elizabeth in her home somewhere in the hill country of Judah.
On her arrival, it is the unborn children who first acknowledge their relationship, though this is then made explicit in the words of Elizabeth to Mary (Luke 1:42-45). John the Baptist, not yet born, leaps in his mother’s womb, demonstrating the truth of what Gabriel had said to Zechariah, that he would be filled with the Holy Spirit, and therefore a prophet, from his mother’s womb (Luke 1:15,17). Elizabeth knows instantly that Mary is also pregnant and that her child is to be the messiah. Although later piety, in the popular prayer of the rosary, took up the first part of Elizabeth’s words to Mary, the focus is actually on the status of Mary’s child as Elizabeth’s “Lord”, who will fulfil the promises of God.
Elizabeth’s words to Mary echo Old Testament praises of leading women in Israel (Judges 5:24; Judith 13:18). The emphasis on faith in God (Luke 1:45) relates closely to a later saying of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke that the real blessing belongs not to his mother merely as his mother, but as one who hears God’s word and keeps it (Luke 11:27,28). After that comes Mary’s song, Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). This likewise picks up Old Testament echoes, particularly from the song of Hannah (1 Samuel 1:11; 2:1-10). It reflects not so much the situation of Mary herself, but the situation of the downcast of Israel, and speaks of the hopes of the poor that are fulfilled in God’s work in Christ.
The commemoration of the Visitation developed in the western church from the thirteenth century. The original date (2 July) was set eight days after the commemoration of the birth of John the Baptist (24 June), rather than between the Annunciation (25 March) and the birth of John the Baptist. The commemoration was retained in the Book of Common Prayer. In the revisions after the Second Vatican Council the Roman Catholic Church adopted the more logical sequence of Annunciation, Visitation, Birth of John the Baptist, and moved the commemoration to 31 May, and this date has been adopted by a number of Anglican Churches. 
For Liturgical Use
The visit of Mary to Elizabeth is recorded only by Luke in his Gospel. The angel Gabriel announces the births of John the Baptist and Jesus, and before the births Mary visits Elizabeth in her home. In Luke’s account there is a mutual recognition of the significance of these births as the fulfilment of God’s promises to Israel as seen in the words of Elizabeth to Mary and in Mary’s song, Magnificat.
Sentence, Prayers and Readings as in A New Zealand Prayer Book - He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa, page 655-656