We are celebrating the Feast of the Visitation on March 30; this is the commemoration of the visit the Virgin Mary made to her cousin Elizabeth, seemingly soon after the the Annunciation, because the Scripture says she “went with haste.” Elizabeth was also expecting a baby, the Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John.
Malcolm Guite has written a sonnet for the feast, which you can find in the anthology Sounding the Seasons. In the West the feast is kept in May.
THE VISITATION
Here is a meeting made of hidden joys
Of lightenings cloistered in a narrow place
From quiet hearts the sudden flame of praise
And in the womb the quickening kick of grace.
Two women on the very edge of things
Unnoticed and unknown to men of power
But in their flesh the hidden Spirit sings
And in their lives the buds of blessing flower.
And Mary stands with all we call ‘too young’,
Elizabeth with all called ‘past their prime’
They sing today for all the great unsung
Women who turned eternity to time
Favoured of heaven, outcast on the earth
Prophets who bring the best in us to birth.
-Malcolm Guite
Gladsome Lights 
What a lovely poem by Malcolm Guite – I am especially drawn to these lines:
And Mary stands with all we call ‘too young’,
Elizabeth with all called ‘past their prime’
They sing today for all the great unsung…
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is one of my favorite parts, too — I’d never before thought of that contrast between them, or how they are on opposite “edges.” ❤
LikeLike
Yes, those were the lines. I thought of myself, and all the “unknown” women who are known by God, but not known by this world.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I tried to leave a comment using the box on the bottom, but for the first time it refused to type in anything or bring up the business about one’s email address etc., so I’m responding to the email as also written below. I loved the poem by Malcolm Guite. Another brilliant choice for the day like Unuttered Prayer by Carol Ann Duffy last week. So many special lines especially the group about “Women on the edge of things”. My special favorites were “Women who turned eternity to time, Favored of Heaven, outcast on the earth.” I have never seen an icon of the visitation before either. Very beautiful. Thanks so muchCathy
LikeLiked by 1 person