Leap For Joy!
The Visitation, Pietro di Francesco degli Orioli (1458-1496), Pinacoteca, Siena, Italy. © La Collection / Domingie & Rabatti.

In the fifteenth century, the representation of the Visitation becomes much more than a simple pictorial narration of the Gospel of Luke (1: 39ff).
It serves as a window through which to contemplate the mystery of God who visits and redeems his people. On the surface, the Visitation by Pietro Orioli depicts a touching family reunion, based on the … [More]

http://www.custodia.org/default.asp?id=1885
The Virgin Mary’s visit to Elizabeth was first set in a place other than that of the birth of Saint John at the beginning of the 14th century: "Zechariah’s house is in the mountains of Judea.. In this place there are two churches… and between these churches flows a spring that is quite full of water. At the site of the first church, it is said, Elisabeth was greeted by the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is also said that the blessed John the Baptist … [More]

This is a fairly late feast, going back only to the 13th or 14th century. It was established widely throughout the Church to pray for unity. The present date of celebration was set in 1969 in order to follow the Annunciation of the Lord (March 25) and precede the Nativity of John the Baptist (June 24).
Like most feasts of Mary, it is closely connected with Jesus and his saving work. The more visible actors in the visitation drama (see Luke 1:39-45) are Mary and Elizabeth. However, Jesus and … [More]