Visitations

Tissot's: The Visitation

I love the scene of Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth. I love it for the charity it displays in Mary forgetting herself and rushing to her cousin's side. I also love the joy displayed by these two women, both expecting a child at an unexpected time in their lives.
Today's feast of the Visitation also holds great meaning for me personally. It was eight years ago on this day that I accepted Christ's invitation to return to Him. As the years go by and I reflect on this invitation, I see that Our Lady had a great deal to do with my accepting that invitation from her Son, but her visitation was a subtle one because I think she knew I would be "scared off" by anything too strong.
In those initial days after saying yes, I found myself praying the Rosary quite often. I found strength and comfort in it, I still do. Eventually it was as if I heard her say to me, "Let my Son heal you." It would be three more months before I would find the courage to accept that invitation.
When I finally did find the courage to seek healing, this Biblical scene of the Visitation would again play a role. When I made the call to register for a Rachel's Vineyard retreat, I was told that part of the healing process would be that I would name the child I had aborted. All I could think was that I have no idea if this child was a girl or boy. I was praying the Joyful Mysteries, the Visitation to be precise, when the name Elizabeth Anne seemed to fall from the sky. Yet again Our Lady obtained  the grace I needed.
As the years progress and my healing continues, Mary continues to hasten to my side in the soft and subtle manner in which I have become accustomed . She continues to bring her Son to me and me to her Son. I have taken her motherly advice and allowed her Son to heal me, and in doing so, the child I once allowed to die is now alive and leaps within my heart and soul.