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The Visitation is a Feast covering the events of Luke 1 when the Blessed Virgin Mary, then pregnant with our Lord, visited Elizabeth, her cousin, who was then pregnant with St. John the Baptist.

At the Mass

The following is taken from:

The Introit

Antiphon: Hail, O Mother most holy, who in child birth didst bring forth the Monarch: and earth reigneth for ever and ever. (Alleluia, Alleluia.)

Verse: Ps. 45 My heart is inditing of a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made unto the King.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Repeat the Antiphon Hail, O Mother most ...

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper Supplemental, Page 15

The Collect

O God Most High, who didst endue with wonderful virtue and grace the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Lord: Grant that we, who now call her blessed, may be made very members of the heavenly family of him who was pleased to be called the first-born among many brethren; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Page 309

The Lesson
Acts 1. 12.

Then the Apostles returned unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath day’s journey. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode Peter and James and John and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Jude the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

Acts 1:12-14 NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Pages 309-310

Gradual and Alleluia

Blessed and venerable art thou, O Virgin Mary: who without spot was found the Mother of the our Saviour. Virgin, Mother of God, he who the world containeth not: being made man lay hid in thy womb.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Happy art thou, O sacred Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise: for out of thee hath arisen the sun of righteousness, Christ our Lord. Alleluia.

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper Supplemental, Page 16

The Gospel
St. Luke 1. 39.

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass that, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit; and she spake with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. And Mary said, 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 magnified me; And holy is his Name.

Luke 1:39-49 NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Page 310

The Offertory

Blessed art thou, O Virgin Mary, who didst bear the Creator of all things: thou broughtest forth him who made thee, and for ever remainest a Virgin.

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper Supplemental, Page 17

The Preface

Upon All Saints’ Day and other Festivals of Saints.

Who in the multitude of thy Saints hast compassed us about with so great a cloud of witnesses, that we, rejoicing in their fellowship, may run with patience the race that is set before us, and together with them may receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away. Therefore with Angels, etc.

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Page 81

The Communion

Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary: that bore the Son of the everlasting Father. (Alleluia.)

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper Supplemental, Page 17