The Feast Of The Visitation

Visitation, from Altarpiece of the Virgin (St. Vaast Alterpiece)       Jaques Daret, Netherlands/Belgium, 1434-35

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Visitation. This minor festival was adopted in 1389 as a day to remember and commemorate the visit of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth and Elizabeth's joy at the coming of "the mother of my Lord." Elizabeth shares her joy and proclaims the reason for her happiness. It is not that she is with child; rather, it is that Mary is with "the Child." She bears the Savior of the world. So, too, we rejoice, for our salvation is at hand.

Magnificat / Song of Mary

Chorus: Magnificat anima mea Dominum / My soul magnifies the Lord,

Aria: et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salvatore meo, / and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior;

Aria: quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae. / For He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaiden.

Chorus: Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes, / For behold, from this day all generations will call me blessed.

Aria: quia fecit mihi magna, qui potens est, et sanctum nomen eius, / For the Mighty One has done great things to me,and holy is His name;

Duet: et misericordia eius in progenies et progenies timentibus eum. / And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.

Chorus: Fecit potentiam in brachio suo, dispersit superbos mente cordis sui; / He has shown strength with his arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

Aria: deposuit potentes de sede et exaltavit humiles; / He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has exalted the lowly.

Aria: esurientes implevit bonis et divites dimisit inanes. / He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent empty away.

Trio: Suscepit Israel puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae, / He has helped his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy 

Chorus: sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semini eius in saecula / as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.

Chorus: Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto, Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper,et in Saecula saeculorum. Amen. / Glory be to the Father, and to the son, and to the Holy Spirit; As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen

Sources

Photos and Illustrations:

wikimedia.org, Staateliche Museen, Berlin

Text:

quotation, Abiding Grace Evanglical Lutheran Church, bulletin, May 29, 2016

Magnificat, text and translation, wikipedia.org