“Visitations” seemed to be the likely title for this blog with an image of The Blessed Virgin Mary “on the run.” The moment I saw this picture, I knew it would blossom forth into a beautiful flower to be presented to the Mother of God on the Feast of her Visitation. Let us look at this picture in its entirety below and also read Holy Scripture from Luke’s Gospel.
The Jerusalem Bible tells us in Luke 1:39-43 that. . .
“Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, “Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honored with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
I always wondered about the Blessed Mother’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth. There were no “landlines, cell phones or emails” to notify one of an upcoming visit. I imagine that both Elizabeth and Zechariah had not a clue that their cousin Mary – the Mother of God was on her way “in haste” to visit them for a 3 month stay. St. John the Baptist – a little one in the womb of Elizabeth – “leapt for joy.” Oh – those three words are so “telling and so deep.”
Plunge into them with me now. . .they are “golden dewdrops” from scripture for us to ponder. We can only deduce that when the Blessed Mother makes a “visitation” we are filled with “joy.” Not only “joy” but so much more if we open our hearts and open the doors of our homes. She wants to come in and she wants to bring her Son Jesus Christ with her.
In the Gospel of John 19:26-27 – we are told the following:
“Seeing his mother and the disciple He loved standing near her, Jesus said to His mother, “Woman, this is your son.” Then to the disciple He said, “This is your mother.” And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home.”
The word “place” in the scripture above means so much to me personally. I know I have spoken time and time again of that “visitation!” in my own home that continues on to the present day. In writing about it now – I give Glory to God and that is truly a “visitation” of the highest regard to be shared with all my readers.
In June of 2018, I had reservations to attend a retreat at Malvern Retreat House in Pennsylvania. Fr. James Blount was going to be giving a weekend retreat there the weekend of June 29 through July 1st. I had sent in a deposit and was ready to go. At least I thought I was going!
But then one day in prayer, I heard “give up your space for another.” Whoa! What was that? I felt I was being told to cancel my retreat and that sounded outlandish. Having experience from working at St. Ignatius Retreat House and the “Rules of Discernment,” I took it straight to Fr. Tony Stanganelli. Was Jesus telling me to cancel my retreat or was this message coming from another voice? Fr. Tony’s response was to “cancel the retreat Anita!” I protested with the words – “what if it is the evil one?”
I will never forget Fr. Tony’s words to my heart that day – “Anita, if Jesus wants to grace you – He can do that whether you are present at Malvern Retreat House or in your own home!”
And so Fr. Tony’s words were prophetic. The retreat got cancelled and I stayed home waiting for “Grace” to enter into my home.
Remember that the retreat was booked for June 29th through July 1st that I cancelled.
Now it was always my custom to request a visitation from the Legion of Mary at St. Thomas the Apostle to come for my birthday which is the beginning of June. When calling “Grace” who was Mother Mary’s “secretary” to book “her visitations,” I was told that the “statue” wasn’t available for the time I had asked for. Disappointed, I let it go and moved on! I was going on a retreat – or so I thought!
However, after I cancelled the retreat in Malvern things changed. I received a phone call from Grace asking if she could bring Our Lady of Fatima statue to my home on Thursday – June 28th! I couldn’t believe my ears. Fr. Tony’s words resonated in my soul. “Anita, if Jesus wants to grace you – He can do that whether you are present at Malvern Retreat House or in your own home! Waves of Grace were beginning to flow!
I was having a visitation from Our Lady of Fatima to arrive the day before I would have left on retreat.
Our dear Blessed Mother does not travel alone! Just as she visited her cousin Elizabeth and Zechariah with her Son Jesus Christ within her womb – so she came to my home with Son Jesus in tow!
Yes, I gave up my space to another!
Why? You might ask! Before she even arrived with Grace and Germaine, I heard so clearly in my soul – “I am coming as Mother and Sister – not as Queen.” I immediately thought – uh oh. . .how do I share this with these Legion of Mary ladies! They were dear friends to my heart but this would be the first time I would have to give them a directive. It would be that “Mama” did not want to wear her mantle and days later I would understand she also did not want to wear her crown.
She was coming to “adorn” us with her Mantle. She was coming to show her “love and protection” and hold us close to her heart.
She was also coming with her Son. They are a “team” because their hearts are intertwined together in love and in that love they bestow it upon us – filling our souls with grace upon grace. Fr. Tony was so right! I didn’t have to leave my home!
I found myself in awe for here I was now – in my home – not on retreat but with the “Mother of God” in a special way. The first night we moved a “Flame of Love” prayer group to my home and we prayed fervently to our Mama.
The second night when I would have been in Malvern, Pennsylvania – I would hear the doorbell ring at 8 p.m. Not expecting anyone, I looked out the window to see “two priests” standing at my front door. It was Msgr. Michael and Fr. Alex who decided to take a stroll after dinner and surprise me.
But the surprise was on them and I told them so upon their entering into the living room. There was the Blessed Mother atop my mantle – waiting for her priest sons to come up and “listen to see.” She had called them forth that evening and it was a “call” that would reach many ears to form a prayer group to pray specifically for priests. Not only priests, but seminarians, deacons, religious and deceased priests.
The Blessed Virgin Mary would wrap her mantle around 90 people that first summer of 2019. Two of the first visitors would be little Ethan and his mom Amanda. It wasn’t a coincidence that a “mother and son” would be called to be one of the first ones to be wrapped in “love.” And it is no coincidence either that May 31st is Amanda’s birthday and June 1st is Ethans! The Feast of the Visitation and First Saturday – how timely!!!!
The Blessed Mother was preparing us in so many ways. We would be led to pray like we’ve never prayed before and taken through “rounds” of consecrations. The first one that we would enter into was Christine Watkins’ – “Mary’s Mantle Consecration.” We would find ourselves consecrating on the Feast Day of the Sacred Heart – June 28, 2019. We were being led to the Heart of her Son!
There are 35 of us including two priests that are wrapped in the “Mantle of Her Love” and go under the name of “Dare Alla Luce.” What is that translated into English? We give to the light or give birth to! And in that “giving” we receive “back” a hundredfold with blessings and graces from our Heavenly Mother and the Healing from the Divine Physician – her Son Jesus Christ.
Everyday Visitations
We have the opportunity everyday to receive “visitations.” Certainly our Blessed Mother wraps us in her mantle and brings us to her Son Jesus who waits for us with open arms as is depicted above in this beautiful image.
However, Jesus comes to us in the Eucharist at Daily Mass and on weekends. St. Elizabeth, St. Zechariah and St. John the Baptist felt the “Lord’s Presence,” but we “RECEIVE HIS BODY AND BLOOD” when we receive the Holy Eucharist. The word, “Eucharist” is a Greek word that means, “thanksgiving.” Listen to these words – we “RECEIVE HIM” within our own bodies and in that receiving we have the strength to go onward and forward in our daily lives in “love.” That is “VISITATION!”
I am writing this blog in honor of Our Lady’s Visitation but I am also writing it in honor of this coming First Saturday and the Grand Feast Day of Corpus Christi on Sunday. What a triple header! What a “visitation!”
Yes, Yes, Yes! There is definitely “light” coming through that keyhole. When you open the door of your heart, you will “walk” the Blessed Virgin Mary and Her Son into your home and your heart. You will have your own “visitation.” I guarantee it!
There are opportunities only if we but “listen to see.” It seems nobody is looking up anymore. If you look around, everyone is looking down at their cellphones or talking on them. How can we hear the words – “give up your space to another” when there is no space and we have crowded it with noise and worldly pleasures.
Time is short! We hear those words over and over.
Just the other day my brother in law Pat shared a story with me at a family get together. Pat was playing cards with his buddies and one of them just closed his eyes and stopped breathing. “Nick” had signed out and was called. He simply closed his eyes and died. His number was up and the card game of “life” was over for him.
Was he ready? Are any of us ready? But what we are ready for are “visitations!”
I love this image. I love all these visuals because they bring you to a place of meditation and prayer. Look at this picture and see the Blessed Mother holding your hand and leading you to her Son Jesus Christ.
Take her hand this Feast Day of the Visitation and let her lead you to her Son’s Sacred Heart.
June 1st is only days away! It’s the great month of the Sacred Heart! I love the month because it is my birth month but more so because it is the month of His Beating Throbbing Sacred Heart that loves us all! Let us enter and give our hearts to Jesus Christ for the month of the Sacred Heart and truly have a “Visitation” of the Divine. Nothing is better. That is what the eternal will be – praising and loving her Son – our Lord Jesus Christ!
©2024 Anita Guariglia
Featured Image and other images – Pinterest and Instagram
Image of Our Lady of Fatima – Anita Guariglia
Image of Amanda and Ethan – Anita Guariglia
Bible Scripture – Jerusalem Bible
9 Responses
Beautiful. Veni, veni, Maria!
Yes, She is sooooo beautiful! May we all honor her today in ways that we have never honored her before!
God Bless You dear Frances and your Mama!
Whatever or whenever we give to Our Lady we can be sure She will give us back so much more…She will not be outdone. You gave up your space to another and Mary moved into your home and your life in ways you never imagined!..and into countless other lives as well. Praise God!
Absolutely! When we “open” the door to “Her” She tidies up everything and brings order and peace but most of all JOY and LOVE to be received by all the others who walk through that front door of Faith. God bless you dear one – Anita
Great Blog! Thank you for all your inspiration, and your hard work in writing these terrific blogs. Doing wonders in my prayer life.
God Bless You! Our Blessed Mother and Jesus are the Givers of Great Love for all!
Your blog posts are consistently excellent.
Thank you for your “comments” of pushing me onward and forward! God Bless You Abundantly!
I am ever grateful for my readers and their comments that push me forward and onward!
God Bless You!