Today is the traditional date in the Roman Calendar for the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth, chronicled in Luke 1: 39-56. The modern Roman Calendar, as well as the modern Anglican and Lutheran calendars, observes the feast on 31 May, as the culmination of the month dedicated to Mary.



Gerard Serafin posted a fine memorial and tribute on 31 May, which you can revisit here.



Mary's visit is the occasion, of course, of one of the loveliest things in all of literature, her response to Elizabeth's greeting, the Magnificat. Mary's words have been set to music by composers of genius down through the centuries, with pride of place going to Johann Sebastian Bach. I have a recording of that work coupled with the Te Deum of Anton Bruckner. But here is a path to a setting by John Rutter, another version of the Magnificat with a wide and appreciative audience.



The words, though, have their own music and can stand alone.



My soul doth magnify the Lord,

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath done great things for me; and holy is his name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

He hath shown strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He hath come to the help of his servant Israel, for he hath remembered his promise of mercy;

The promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his children for ever.