Summertime: Vacations and Visitations

Jun 30

The Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary recalls and celebrates the visit of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth. This event, recorded in the Gospel of Luke, comes shortly after the Angel Gabriel announced that Mary would conceive by the Holy Spirit and give birth to Jesus, the Son of God.

The Church established this liturgical celebration in the thirteenth century, and it was observed each year on July 2nd, one week after the feast of the birth of John the Baptist. After the Church calendar was reformed following the Second Vatican Council, the feast was moved to May 31. This change allowed the month dedicated to Mary to conclude with a prominent Marian feast and placed the biblical events in a clearer chronological order: the Visitation is commemorated before the birth of John the Baptist, just as it occurs in Scripture.

This year, the feast of the Visitation was not observed because May 31st fell on a Sunday and the Solemnity of the Blessed Trinity took precedence. Since we did not celebrate the feast in May, today may be a good time to follow the medieval practice and recall the visit of Mary on a hot summer day. In many ways, recalling the Visitation in July fits in beautifully with our western culture and our Salesian charism.

Summertime is a season of trips, visits, and vacations. Spending time with loved ones and friends is an important part of the next few months. Family reunions and journeys back to our hometowns are opportunities to connect with others and to recognize our common heritage. These moments are times to share stories and create new memories.

The Visitation is also an important aspect of Salesian Spirituality. It was such an inspiration to St. Francis de Sales that he and St. Jane de Chantal named their religious order after this great mystery in the life of Mary and Jesus. Salesian hospitality is rooted in the Visitation. The summer season is a chance to offer a generous welcome to loved ones, guests, and strangers. Salesian hospitality helps us to honor and accept all of God’s people.

This past weekend, the Gospel for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time recalled the words of Jesus that “whoever receives you, receives me (Matthew 10:40).” The visit of Mary to Elizabeth was a time for both women to receive the Lord and recognize God’s presence and action in their lives.

Remembering the Visitation on this traditional date helps all of us to make room for God at the beginning of the summer. Perhaps we can commit ourselves during these weeks to creating an environment of welcome and acceptance: a summer place where others can be who they are and be that well.