4Real Forums: Thanksgiving and the Visitation

Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.

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SeaStar
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Posted: Nov 15 2010 at 8:17pm \| IP Logged

I will be having quite a variety of company this year for Thanksgiving... all age ranges and walks of life (butcher, baker, candlestick maker

).

One of my sisters is bringing two guests- teenage boys that I have never met. At first I thought: well, those boys won't want to bother with an old lady like me- whew!

But now I am rethinking the whole issue of what it is like to be a guest in someone's home, and what Our Lady would say about being a gracious hostess. The visitation comes to mind. Elizabeth was an old lady opening her home to a teenager in trouble. Was she excited about this up front?
And how did Mary feel- coming as a visitor under somewhat embarrassing circumstances?

My ponderings today led me to think of the story of Lazarus also. The whole issue of being a guest and feeling uncomfortable comes up again there. I mean- can you imagine how Jesus must have felt going to Mary and Martha's house? He was a guest, and what a sticky situation: he hadn't come when they asked, and now here he was ambling in too late.
Yikes.

There is a lot for me to think about here in terms of graciousness. Grace is at the heart. The holidays seem to me to be the perfect time to ask Our Lady to help me in this area even more...

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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)

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Helen
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Posted: Nov 17 2010 at 3:18pm \| IP Logged

Melinda
I love this image of connecting the Visitation to Thanksgiving. I will be hosting some family members this year. I sincerely hope I can keep the Visitation alive in my mind and heart while I'm cooking, cleaning and serving. Thank you for taking the time to make this connection for me.

I don't think Elizabeth thought anything untoward in regards to Mary's visit. On the contrary, Mary's visit is one of great glory and joy. Upon crossing the threshold of Elizabeth's house, Our Lady brang a stream of graces to her hostess, the one Mary intends to serve.

With Mary's greeting, as Mary stepped over the threshold, Elizabeth's babe leapt in her womb. Many of the Church doctors (I'm pretty sure, St. Francis de Sales is one of them) teaches that John the Baptist was sanctified at this moment. An extraordinary gift which the elderly St. Elizabeth would receive with great humility and extreme gratitude.

(The Church celebrates John the Baptist's birthday as a solemnity. His day of martyrdom is a lesser feast day. I don't think any other saint has this honor. The other saints need to wait until their death to earn the title Saint.)

Elizabeth receives another blessing. She hears the Magnificat for the first time. A prayer Our Lady must have been composing in her heart while she was crossing the distance between her house and her cousins. A prayer meditated upon shortly after the miraculous Conception of her Son. What wonders Our Lady must have contemplated during those three days!

It is also very likely that St. Joseph accompanied Our Lady. Mary wasn't an unwed mother. I know that we hear this is many circles but it isn't the best way to portray the Blessed Virgin Mary. She was betrothed to Joseph...one step in the marriage ceremony. St. Joseph had to decide if he was going to divorce Mary which an angel told him not to do. Divorce is for the married.

I don't think anything in the Visitation was embarassing -- except maybe for Elizabeth's husband.

He was still mute. It might have been a tough visit for him unable to express his thoughts about this momentous occasion.

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Ave Maria!
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SeaStar
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Posted: Nov 17 2010 at 4:55pm \| IP Logged

Thank you, Helen. Your whole response is a reminder for me to focus on the reality of what IS instead of speculating about what people might have been thinking or feeling. I was looking at the "before", not the joy of what actually happened when everything was said and done.

Yes, Jesus was late and Lazarus died... but then what consolation and joy when he was brought back to life. And Elizabeth was so joyful to have the mother of God with her. That was the reality, thanks be to God.

I see myself as being very tempted to focus on what might be, on what others might be thinking or feeling. And how can I know that? To be gracious and welcoming, I need to focus on the reality of the moment.

My reality this Thanksgiving is that God is bringing many of my dear family to visit. I don't even have to leave the comfort of my own home.
I need to let go and enjoy this visitation!

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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)

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Helen
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Posted: Nov 17 2010 at 5:20pm \| IP Logged

SeaStar wrote:

To be gracious and welcoming, I need to focus on the reality of the moment.

Gracious, welcoming and the reality of the moment...that's a great way to get ready for thanksgiving and to combine it with living a meditation on the Visitation.

Thanks Melinda!

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Ave Maria!
Mom to 5 girls and 3 boys
Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate

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