lectionary.com

Easter Season · Year B

Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Last day of May · May 31, 2027

The Visitation, Domenico Ghirlandaio
The Visitation, Domenico Ghirlandaio, 1491Musée du Louvre, Paris
Painted for the Tornabuoni chapel in Florence and later taken to Paris, this is the moment Mary and Elizabeth meet, each carrying a child neither of them has yet explained to anyone. Ghirlandaio gives them a Florentine street rather than a Judean hill town, with two women standing by as witnesses.The whole scene is the setting for the Magnificat, so the painting shows the greeting that the song answers.Domenico GhirlandaioA Florentine fresco painter who ran one of the busiest workshops in the city and had the young Michelangelo as an apprentice. He put his patrons and their neighbours into sacred scenes, in the clothes they actually wore.Musée du Louvre, ParisA royal palace turned public museum by the Revolution in 1793, on the principle that what the king had owned now belonged to everyone.Musée du Louvre, Paris
Roman Lectionary
GospelLuke 1:39-56Lk 1:39-56
Second ReadingRom. 12:9-16bRom 12:9-16b
First ReadingZeph. 3:14-18aZep 3:14-18a
Responsorial PsalmIsa. 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6

Overview & Insights

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” (Luke 1:46-47)

Luke has built his infancy narrative out of paired scenes, and here the two annunciations meet. The greeting is exchanged between women, with no priest, no angel and no temple, and recognition comes first from the unborn child (v. 41), which takes up Gabriel’s promise that John would be filled with the Spirit before birth (1:15). Elizabeth’s beatitude in verse 45 praises belief, and stands against Zechariah’s silence, since he asked for proof and was given muteness (1:18-20). The song that follows depends closely on Hannah’s prayer at 1 Samuel 2:1-10, including the reversal of the mighty and the hungry, and a few Old Latin manuscripts attribute it to Elizabeth rather than Mary. Verse 56 sends Mary home and verse 57 brings Elizabeth’s own time to term, closing the pair the chapter opened.

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Take it further: Luke 1:39-56

Commentary

Commentary on Luke 1:39-45 [46-55]Commentary on Lk 1:39-45 [46-55] Working Preacher

Lectionary commentary on Mary's visit to Elizabeth and the Magnificat.

Luke 1 CommentaryLk 1 Commentary Enduring Word

Verse-by-verse commentary on the Visitation and Elizabeth's blessing of Mary.

Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) CommentaryLk 1:39-45 (46-55) Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching commentary on Elizabeth's role in affirming Mary and the child she carries.

Luke 1 CommentaryLk 1 Commentary Precept Austin

Detailed study notes on the Visitation and the Magnificat.

Luke 1 - Haydock Commentary OnlineLk 1 - Haydock Commentary Online Haydock

Catholic verse-by-verse commentary on the Visitation narrative.

Background & Word Study

Luke 1 parallel commentariesLk 1 parallel commentaries BibleHub

Aggregated interlinear and commentary tools for word-level study of the chapter.

Outline of LukeOutline of Lk Enter the Bible

Background on the structure of Luke's Gospel for placing the Visitation in context.

The Church Fathers

Luke 1:42Lk 1:42 Catena Bible

Passage-keyed patristic commentary on Elizabeth's greeting to Mary.

Art & Music

The Visitation (Pontormo) Web Gallery of Art

A mannerist painting of Mary and Elizabeth's meeting for visual meditation.

Study Hub

Mass Readings Explained: The Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year C Catholic Productions

Dr. Pitre's Catholic study of the Visitation and Magnificat readings.

Gospel of Luke, Lesson 2: The Annunciation and VisitationGospel of Lk, Lesson 2: The Annunciation and Visitation Agape Bible Study

A Catholic Bible study lesson devoted to Luke 1:39-56.

Barnes' Notes on Luke 1Barnes' Notes on Lk 1 StudyLight

Classic verse-by-verse notes on the chapter, useful for close reading.

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