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Advent Season · Fourth Sunday of Advent · Year C

Luke 1:39-45

The Visitation: Elizabeth Greets Mary

December 19, 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 1:39-45Lk 1:39-45
Second ReadingHeb. 10:5-10Heb 10:5-10
First ReadingMic. 5:1-4aMi 5:1-4a
Responsorial PsalmPs. 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19 (4)Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19 (4)

Overview & Insights

"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb." (Luke 1:42)

Mary hurries to visit her relative Elizabeth, and when Elizabeth hears Mary's greeting, the child in her womb leaps for joy and she is filled with the Holy Spirit to declare Mary blessed. On the last Sunday before Christmas, two unborn children and two women in faith announce that the Lord's coming has already begun.

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Take it further: Luke 1:39-45

Commentary

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

Luther Seminary's Year C commentary on the already and not yet of Elizabeth's and Mary's meeting.

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

Reformed preaching commentary on the leaping child and Elizabeth's Spirit-filled blessing.

Luke 1 Commentary: The Birth of John the BaptistLk 1 Commentary: The Birth of Jn the Baptist Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse by verse evangelical notes on Luke 1, including Mary's visit to Elizabeth.

Luke 1 CommentaryLk 1 Commentary Precept Austin

Deep study library gathering Greek word notes and cross references for Luke 1.

Luke 1:39 CommentariesLk 1:39 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentators compiled verse by verse on the visitation and Elizabeth's greeting.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year C Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre

Dr. Brant Pitre walks through all four Advent 4 readings, including the Visitation's leap of recognition.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent (Cycle C) Agape Bible Study

Catholic study of all four Advent 4 readings verse by verse, centered on the Visitation.

Fourth Sunday of Advent, Cycle C Loyola Press · Sunday Connection

Catholic Sunday Connection with background and family discussion questions for the day's readings.

Background & Word Study

Luke 1:39 InterlinearLk 1:39 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek text of the passage word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers.

The Church Fathers

Luke 1 - Catena Bible & CommentariesLk 1 - Catena Bible & Commentaries Catena

Patristic comments on the Visitation and Elizabeth's blessing verse by verse.

Podcast

Bishop Barron: Why Mary Matters Word on Fire

Bishop Barron preaches this Sunday’s Mass readings, including Luke 1:39-45.

Study Hub

Advent C4 Textweek

Comprehensive lectionary link aggregator for all four Advent 4, Year C readings.

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