The month dedicated in a special way to the Mother of God concludes with the liturgical feast commemorating Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth. Mary’s encounter with Elizabeth reveals the invisible presence of Christ as the protagonist of the encounter itself: «How can we fail to notice that, in the encounter between the young Mary and the now mature Elizabeth, the hidden protagonist is Jesus? Mary carries him in her womb as in a sacred tabernacle and offers him as the greatest gift to Zechariah, to his wife Elizabeth, and also to the child developing in her womb. Wherever Mary arrives, Jesus is present» (Pope Benedict XVI). 

Mary’s mission begins

Mary’s mission consists not only in bringing Jesus to people, but in forming Jesus in the hearts of believers: «Mary, with her love, always carries us like little children in her womb, until, having sketched Jesus’ features in us, she gives birth to us like him. She continually repeats to us: my little ones, I carry you within me until Jesus has been formed in you» (Columba Marmion, Life of the Soul). Mary’s presence increasingly moves believers to become Jesus little by little. Therefore, drawing close to Mary means becoming Christ.

Everything is God’s work

Another element that emerges from the episode of the Visitation is that, faced with the unpredictable greatness of divine choices and works, a song of praise immediately blossoms in Mary’s heart and on her lips, the Magnificat, addressed to the greatness and mercy of God toward her, toward the people of Israel, toward all the peoples of the earth, toward every person. Everything comes from God; everything is his work. Mary recognizes that God is God and therefore, in her humility, accepts her own nothingness, her infinite distance from God. 

Let us look at history, like Mary, with the eyes of God

If we want to be on the same wavelength as Mary, we need to become aware of our “littleness” and entrust ourselves completely to the Lord. Yet it is precisely this humble entrustment that opens us to reading history - including the history we are living through - in the light of hope, despite everything. It is true: in our time, dramatic situations occur that shake and upend the lives of individuals, families, and peoples. Freedom, justice, solidarity, and peace seem to be goals that - instead of drawing nearer - are tragically moving farther away. Fear and anguish seem to prevail: what even worse and more horrifying things will future generations, our young people, have to see? In the Magnificat, Mary looks at history with God's eyes: no, despite every appearance to the contrary, history has not been surrendered to chaos, nor has it been triumphantly seized by the powerful. As the Church, as Christians, beyond our limitations and faults, we are called to hope and to renew our faith in the Almighty. He is faithful, absolutely faithful, and tirelessly continues to help those who turn to him with humble trust. 

Let us pray the Magnificat, and perhaps we too, like Mary and Elizabeth, will be able to lift our gaze from the tangled confusion of the trivial and selfish concerns of everyday life and glimpse the gift of God, the life he has prepared for those who love him. And learn to read our personal events, the small or great vicissitudes of life, in the light of the great plan God has for humanity and carries out through us, if we let him…

Mary, may you be for all of us and for our journey a sign of consolation and sure hope!

Magnificat (Lk 1:46-55)

My soul magnifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
because he has looked upon the lowliness of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed.
The Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his name;
his mercy is from generation to generation
to those who fear him.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones,
he has lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
he has sent the rich away empty-handed.
He has helped Israel, his servant,
remembering his mercy,
as he had spoken to our fathers,
for Abraham and his descendants forever.