Each year on November 5th, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Elizabeth of the Visitation. Not simply the feast of St. Elizabeth, but specifically, “of the Visitation.” Interestingly, there is no further mention made of Elizabeth in Scripture after the birth and circumcision of her son, St. John the Baptist. Her title, “of the Visitation,” tells us something about the purpose and mission of her life on earth. Let’s explore what that mission might be.
We know that Elizabeth was chosen by God to give birth to the one who was to prepare the way of the Lord—a big deal! Still, if one of my children turns out to be the future pope, that might make me feel proud, but it does not automatically make me a saint. No, we do not venerate Elizabeth simply because of who she gave birth to, although that event alone should certainly elicit our respect and gratitude.
The reason we venerate Elizabeth is because of her status as “saint,” which she would have been granted by the Church under one or more of the following four conditions: martyrdom, a life of Christian virtue lived heroically, a strong reputation for religious devotion, or a life sacrificed for others. How does St. Elizabeth fit into any of these categories?
First, Scripture tells us that Elizabeth was “from the daughters of Aaron” (Lk. 1:5); that is, her lineage descended from the elder brother of Moses. Elizabeth would have been raised in a pious and devout family, one whose expectation would have held her to a higher moral standard that would set an example for the people around her.
Next, Scripture tells us that she was “righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly” (Lk. 1:6). Why is this important to know? Because of what Scripture tells us next: “[She] had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and…advanced in years” (Lk. 1:7). The prevailing assumption at the time was that if one experienced misfortune in life, it was a deserved punishment for an offense committed. By prefacing the verse about Elizabeth’s infertility with the detail of her “blamelessness,” Scripture is telling us that the sufferings which befall us are not divine retribution for our sins—and, as we will find out, “work for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28). Before Jesus even came to explain this to us clearly, Elizabeth was already preparing the world to accept this teaching by the example of her own life.
Then Elizabeth conceives a son in her “old age.” For all we know, “old age” could have been considered thirty in ancient times, but whatever her age, we can safely assume that it was well past childbearing years. After all, the whole point of the story is to show the miraculous nature of John the Baptist’s birth. Elizabeth’s conception of John would have put all doubts to bed about whether her barrenness was a punishment from God. Her pregnancy was such an incredible miracle, in fact, that it would have proved that she was favored.
Elizabeth’s first move upon finding out that she is pregnant is to “go into seclusion.” For five months. But for what purpose? Let’s recall, at the time when she conceives, Elizabeth is married to a man who has been silenced by an angel as a direct result of his speaking too rashly before. Certainly, this lesson would not have escaped her notice; in fact, we might even deduce that it was Zechariah who motioned to her to remain silent about what is happening now, until they have taken some time to prayerfully reflect. If I were Elizabeth, I would have had countless questions: What plans do you have for this child? Why me?
We don’t know what discussion took place between Elizabeth and the Lord. But one thing we can safely assume is that, as a woman who “observ[ed] all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord,” Elizabeth would have undoubtedly spent the better part of her prayer devoted to interceding on behalf of her son.
It is at the end of this five-month season of prayer that Mary visits Elizabeth. Common thinking is that Mary came to help her cousin with perhaps the cooking and cleaning, but if that is true, it is only secondary to the reason that the angel has sent Mary “in haste” to her cousin. After all, why the rush? Elizabeth still had three months left of her pregnancy, besides which, should Mary not have taken some time herself to ponder what her own perplexing pregnancy might mean?
After all those months of seclusion, Scripture tells us that Elizabeth is “filled with the Holy Spirit.” She now understands, and it is time to come out of isolation. But Mary, who has conceived by the Holy Spirit the Son of God in her womb, is already filled with the Holy Spirit and understands precisely what her pregnancy would mean. She does not need to take the time that Elizabeth does; it is time for the next step. God has told her to go; she understands His instructions perfectly and is not about to delay carrying them out. So she leaves in haste.
Now what happens when Mary greets Elizabeth? Little baby John “leaps in her womb.” Scripture seems to set this verse up in such a way as to suggest that we should all be amazed at the miracle of John’s leaping! But the reality is, a baby kicking in utero is not particularly astounding. For John to leap at just the right moment is not really proof of his sanctity. But what happens next is a different story:
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.” (Lk. 1:41-42)
Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, has just introduced to the world words that would become part of the Holy Rosary, whose purpose, over a thousand years later, would be to lead souls back to the Faith. So Elizabeth, who prayed in seclusion for five months, now filled with the Holy Spirit, is the very first to pioneer the way of devotion to Mary.
She was not canonized simply for being the mother of John the Baptist, after all. Her seclusion proved her life of “heroic Christian virtue.” And as the very first woman to honor Mary as the mother of God, Elizabeth has displayed the strength of her “religious devotion.”
Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled. (Lk. 1:45)
So it is from this humble, contrite heart, filled with the Holy Spirit, that Elizabeth marvels at her dear cousin’s unwavering trust, not with envy or discouragement, but with awe and wonder and overwhelming gratitude. Just as John has prepared the way for us to Jesus, so too has Elizabeth prepared the way for us to love, venerate, and follow the example of Mary, our mother.
St. Elizabeth of the Visitation, pray for us.
Author’s Note: Excerpt from: The Safe Haven: Scriptural Reflections for the Heart and Home (Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34). To purchase, visit Amazon or The Catholic Company, where all other volumes currently in print are also available.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
