Visitation is certainly at the heart of our Faith. We are to visit the Blessed Sacrament. We are to visit the sick and imprisoned. We are to visit the graves of loved ones. We are to visit the lonely and afflicted to bring them comfort. Though Mary was undergoing her own trials—unwed, pregnant, chosen by God, she left the comfort of her home in Nazareth, in haste. She detected a need, and she acted without fearful hesitation.
And Elizabeth wasn’t just a drive across town. She lived in the hill country of Judea—about 60 miles from Nazareth—through bandit infested hill country. A difficult journey for anyone, especially for a teenage mother traveling by herself.
But anxiety did not hinder the blessed Mother from making the charitable visitation. Mary was concerned that Elizabeth’s pregnancy would be difficult for she was advanced in years. So, prompted by love and charity, she put Elizabeth’s needs ahead of her own.
There’s always an excuse not to make visitation—to visit the lonely, to visit the blessed sacrament. But Our Lady shows us the generous spirit that should animate us, the self-forgetfulness.
Memorial Day is certainly a day for Visitation. It is common today to visit the graves of our servicemen and women who died defending our freedom. I know in my hometown, a parade will process from the veteran’s memorial in the town square to the cemetery to honor and pray for our beloved soldiers. My grandfather, a world war II veteran took part in the parade every year, to remember his fallen comrades. In fact, my mother and nieces are keeping the family tradition alive and taking part in the parade this morning.
It is important to visit the memories of our beloved heroes. To remember to pray for their souls. And to remember the values for which they died.
It was on Memorial Day last year, that we were able to return to the public celebration of Mass after the long period of quarantine. With a spirit of profound gratitude for all who made it possible for us to be here today, we pray for our beloved war dead, and pray that we may, like them, hunger and thirst and work for justice and peace, for the spread of God’s kingdom, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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Let us pray to our Heavenly Father, confident that He is generous to those who call upon Him with faith.
That Our Lady’s example of generous charity may inspire us to engage more fervently in the works of mercy and the preaching of the Gospel. Let us pray to the Lord.
For our President and all elected government representatives, may the Holy Spirit grant them wisdom and guide them to promote authentic and lasting peace in the world, an end to terrorism, respect for religious freedom, and a greater reverence for the sanctity of Human Life. Let us pray to the Lord.
On this Memorial Day, we pray that our nation may live with ever-greater gratitude for the sacrifice of those who fought and died for our freedom. Let us pray to the Lord.
For the protection of all those who serve in our nation’s military, and for all wounded servicemen and women, for all those widowed and orphaned because of war. Let us pray to the Lord.
For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our family, friends, and parish, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom, and for N… Let us pray to the Lord.
We pray, O Lord our God, that the Virgin Mary, who merited to bear God and man in her chaste womb, may commend the prayers of your faithful in your sight. Through Christ Our Lord.
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