Mary's Humility at the Visitation

Since the Virgin was most thoughtful, not only did she go to Elizabeth's house without any conceit about the angel's words, but she even took the first step in greeting her cousin, showing her the respect due to her more advanced age and dignity as a mother. It wasn't Elizabeth who greeted Mary first, but Mary who greeted Elizabeth.

One must observe that Mary, who was superior, went to Elizabeth, who was inferior, and that the Son of God came to the Baptist: this teaches us that we shouldn't hesitate to help those who are inferior to us, and it also teaches us modesty.

Better men go to weaker men to give them some advantage by their visits. Thus the Savior came to John to sanctify John's baptism. And as soon as Mary heard the angel announce that she would conceive the Savior and that her relative Elizabeth was with child, "she rose up in haste and went into the mountain country, and entered Elizabeth's house." Jesus was in her womb, and He hastened to sanctify John, who was still in his own mother's womb.
Origen,

Homily on the Gospel of Luke VII, 1.

Taken from Origen, by Joseph T. Lienhard; Catholic University of America Press, 1996. http://www.mariedenazareth.com/13297.0.html?&L=0

MULTIMEDIA : Pietro Lorenzetti, Madonna dei TramontiOlivier Messiaen, Regard de la Vierge

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death. Amen.

December 2009
1ST SUNDAY OF ADVENT: 29 NOVEMBER 2009 - LK21:25-28,34-36
Monday: 30 November 2009 St. Andrew - Matthew 8,5-11
Tuesday: 1 December 2009 - Luke 10,21-24
Wednesday: 2 December 2009 - Matthew 15,29-37
Thursday: 3 December 2009 - Matthew 7,21.24-27
Friday: 4 December 2009 - Matthew 9,27-31
Saturday: 5 December 2009 - Matthew 9,35 - 10,1.5-8

2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENT: 6 DECEMBER 2009 - Lk3:1-6
Monday: 7 December 2009 - Lk5:17-26
Tuesday: 8 December 2009 - Immaculate Conception of the B.V.Mary: Luke 1,26-38
Wednesday: 9 December 2009 - Matthew 11,28-30
Thursday: 10 December 2009 - Matthew 11,11-15
Friday: 11 December 2009 - Matthew 11,16-19
Saturday: 12 december 2009 – Our Lady of Guadalupe (USA) - Matthew 17,10-13

3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT: 13 DECEMBER 2009 – LUKE 3: 10-18
Monday: 14 December 2009 – St. John of the Cross - Matthew 21,23-27
Tuesday: 15 December 2009 - Matthew 21,28-32
Wednesday: 16 December 2009 – Luke 7: 19-23
Thursday: 17 December 2009 - Matthew 1,1-17
Friday: 18 December 2009 - Matthew 1,18-24
Saturday: 19 December 2009 - Luke 1,5-25

4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT: 20 DECEMBER 2009 – LUKE 1: 39-45
Monday: 21 December 2009 – Luke 1:39-45
Tuesday: 22 December 2009 - Luke 1,46-56
Wednesday: 23 December 2009 - Luke 1,57-66
Thursday: 24 December 2009 – Luke 1,67-79
FRIDAY: 25 DECEMBER 2009 - THE BIRTH OF THE LORD: JOHN 1,1-18
Saturday: 26 December 2009 – St. Stephen - John 20,2-8

THE HOLY FAMILY: 27 DECEMBER 2009 - LUKE 2: 41-52
Monday: 28 December 2009 – Holy Innocents Mathew 2:13-18
Tuesday: 29 December 2009 - Luke 2,22-35
Wednesday: 30 December 2009 - Luke 2,36-40
Wednesday: 31 December 2009 - John 1,1-18