Thursday, May 31, 2012
Mary Visits Elizabeth
Dear Friends,
Please read the passage below from the Gospel of St. Luke (1:39-56):
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.” And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of 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.
Today is the great day of Our Blessed Mother’s visit to her cousin Elisabeth. Zechariah and Elizabeth lived in a small town called Ein Karem not very far from Jerusalem. I had the joy to go there when I was in Israel last December.
(Below you will find the message of Our Blessed Mother given to Father Melvin. She spoke to him these words,)
“I greet you, My son Melvin and all My sons and daughters scattered all over the world. My Son, Jesus, gave Me to you to be your Mother just before He died on the cross. When the Angel Gabriel came to Me to announce that I would be the Mother of the Savior, the Son of God, he also told Me that My cousin Elizabeth was with child. That is why I decided to go and visit her and stay with her to help her during this difficult time.
Elizabeth’s reaction to My greetings shows that she was filled with the Holy Spirit. The child in her womb, and this child is John the Baptist, leaped when he heard My voice, and his mother Elizabeth prophesied saying, ‘Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.’ My Son, Jesus, who was conceived not long before influenced both the mother and the unborn child. This is proof that there is a human being as soon as the child is conceived and that child has to be respected and he has the right to life. In answer to Elizabeth, I sang the Magnificat, a canticle inspired by the Holy Spirit. I ask you all to pray this canticle every day. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin