Mary spread the joy of the Lord before Jesus was even born. Scripture says that once Mary learned of her cousin Elizabeth’s pregnancy, she traveled to the hill country in haste. Pregnant herself, and traveling on foot or by donkey, she rushed to her beloved cousin. Mary arrived at the house of Zechariah, and at the sound of her voice, the infant in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy.

The two cousins stood together and praised God for their pregnancies. Elizabeth filled with the holy spirit said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”

Both had much to contemplate about their upcoming births. Elizabeth was an older woman and had waited all her life to have a child. This child would make way for Jesus and his message. Mary was young, unmarried at the time of conception, and carrying the long-anticipated messiah.

Our Christian duty is to carry the Word to all we encounter. By what we say and what we do, we are to spread the Good News of Jesus. (See Mark 16:15-16 and Romans 10:13-15.)

This is the message of the Second Joyful Mystery of the Rosary, The Visitation.

(See more on the Rosary in my books: The Rosary Prayer by Prayer, Grieving with Mary, and Fatima at 100. Fatima Today.)

(Have you seen my latest post on genetic testing on my blog, Midwest Mary?)