After the angel Gabriel had announced to Virgin Mary that
she was pregnant with Our Lord Jesus, Mary went from Galilee to Judea to visit
her relative Elizabeth, soon to be the mother of John the Baptist. Mary entered
Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ’“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In
a loud voice, she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the
child you will bear! But why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord
should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the
baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord
would fulfill his promises to her!’” (Luke 1:41-45) Then Mary praised God in
joy that her soul magnified the Lord for the blessing of all nations “to do
justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God” (Micah 6:8). “Mary
said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for
he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all
generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for
me - holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation
to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered
those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from
their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good
things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he
promised our ancestors.’” (Luke 1:46-55)