f whom had been enemies of
God's people. In this respect these two women are true types of Mary, who
was chosen by God to crush the head of the serpent, the infernal enemy of
mankind. And if they deserved the title of blessed for being the
instruments of God in rescuing Israel from temporal calamities, how much
more does Mary merit that appellation, who co-operated so actively in the
salvation of the human race!

The Evangelist proceeds: "And Mary, rising up in those days, went ... into
a city of Juda; and she entered into the house of Zachary and saluted
Elizabeth. And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of
Mary the infant leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy
Ghost, and she cried out with a loud voice and said: Blessed art thou
among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to
me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, as soon as
the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb
leaped for joy. And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those
things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord."(246)

There is joy in Mary's heart in being chosen to become the mother of the
world's Redeemer. She wishes by her visit to communicate that joy to her
cousin. The Sun of Justice is shining within her. She desires to diffuse
His rays through Elizabeth's household. She is laden with spiritual
treasures. She must share them with her kinswoman, especially as she is
none the poorer in making others richer.

The usual order of salutation is here reversed. Age pays reverence to
youth. A lady who is revered by the whole community honors a lowly maiden.
An inspired matron expresses her astonishment that her young kinswoman
should deign to visit her. She extols Mary's faith and calls her blessed.
She blends the praise of Mary with the praise of Mary's Son, and even the
infant John testifies his reverential joy by leaping in his mother's womb.
And we are informed that during this interview Elizabeth was filled with
the Holy Ghost, to remind us that the veneration she paid to her cousin
was not prompted by her own feelings, but was dictated by the Spirit of
God.

Then Mary breaks out into that sublime canticle, the Magnificat: "My soul
doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior,
because He hath regarded the humility of his handmaid, for behold from
henceforth all generations shall call me b