Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Reading 1 and//usccb.org/bible/zephaniah/3:14 ZEP 3:14-18A Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!Sing joyfully, O Israel!Be glad and exult with all your heart,O daughter Jerusalem!The LORD has removed the judgment against you,he has turned away your enemiesThe King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst,you have no further misfortune to fear.On that day, it shall be said to JerusalemandFear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!The LORD, your God, is in your midst,a mighty saviorHe will rejoice over you with gladness,and renew you in his love,He will sing joyfully because of you,as one sings at festivals. Or and//usccb.org/bible/romans/12:9 ROM 12:9-16 Brothers and sistersandLet love be sincerehate what is evil,hold on to what is goodlove one another with mutual affectionanticipate one another in showing honor.Do not grow slack in zeal,be fervent in spirit,serve the Lord.Rejoice in hope,endure in affliction,persevere in prayer.Contribute to the needs of the holy ones,exercise hospitality.Bless those who persecute you,bless and do not curse them.Rejoice with those who rejoice,weep with those who weep.Have the same regard for one anotherdo not be haughty but associate with the lowlydo not be wise in your own estimation. Responsorial Psalm and//usccb.org/bible/isaiah/12:2 ISAIAH 12:2-3, 4BCD, 5-6 R. (6)Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.God indeed is my saviorI am confident and unafraid.My strength and my courage is the LORD,and he has been my savior.With joy you will draw waterat the fountain of salvation.R.Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his nameamong the nations make known his deeds,proclaim how exalted is his name.R.Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievementlet this be known throughout all the earth.Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,for great in your midstis the Holy One of Israel!R.Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel. Alleluia and//usccb.org/bible/luke/1:45 SEE LK 1:45 R.Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, who believedthat what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.R.Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel and//usccb.org/bible/luke/1:39 LK 1:39-56 Mary set outand traveled to the hill country in hasteto a town of Judah,where she entered the house of Zechariahand greeted Elizabeth.When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,the infant leaped in her womb,and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,cried out in a loud voice and said, Most blessed are you among women,and blessed is the fruit of your womb.And how does this happen to me,that the mother of my Lord should come to me?For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,the infant in my womb leaped for joy.Blessed are you who believedthat what was spoken to you by the Lordwould be fulfilled.”And Mary saidand My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lordmy spirit rejoices in God my Savior,for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.From this day all generations will call me blessedandthe Almighty has done great things for me,and holy is his Name.He has mercy on those who fear himin every generation.He has shown the strength of his arm,he has scattered the proud in their conceit.He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,and has lifted up the lowly.He has filled the hungry with good things,and the rich he has sent away empty.He has come to the help of his servant Israelfor he has remembered his promise of mercy,the promise he made to our fathers,to Abraham and his children for ever.”Mary remained with her about three monthsand then returned to her home.