The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Feast

“Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!” (Zeph 3:14) Today marks the day the Blessed Mother visited her cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s son, John, jumped in her womb and Elizabeth, upon hearing Mary’s greeting, was filled with the Holy Spirit proclaiming, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” Mary’s response has become known as her Magnificant; in which she expresses praise and thanksgiving to God the Father for his closeness of Spirit. The account can be found in the Gospel According to Luke, chapter 1, verses 39-56. ‘My soul magnifies...

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I Am The Vine, You Are The Branches: From a Commentary on the Gospel of John by Saint Cyril of Alexandria

The Lord calls himself the vine and those united to him branches in order to teach us how much we shall benefit from our union with him, and how important it is for us to remain in his love. By receiving the Holy Spirit, who is the bond of union between us and Christ our Savior, those who are joined to him, as branches are to a vine, share in his own nature. On the part of those who come to the vine, their union with him depends upon a deliberate act of the will; on his part, the union is effected by grace. Because we had good will, we made the act of faith that brought us to Christ, and received from him the dignity of adoptive sonship that...

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