2. Mary of the Visitation

Start:
Allow your body and mind to slow down. Become aware of the presence of God.

Light the candle which symbolises the light of Christ.

Hope: To grow in awareness of how I am loved unconditionally by God.

Begin with a brief conversation with God asking to be open for the grace which you hope for during this retreat.

Introduction:
Like Mary of the Visitation we go out from our communion with the Lord full of faith and hope. We go to meet young people in their places of need, offering them our love. In an age of individualism, we put others first.

Luke 1:39-45 | The Visitation
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

First Exercise, Lectio: What does the text tell me?

Read the Scripture passage slowly, at least twice.

If a word or phrase or idea seems important, take note of it.

Second Exercise, Meditatio: What do I say to God in light of the text?

Allow the important word, phrase or idea to enter your thoughts.

Be with the words, recognising that you are in God’s presence.

Allow the Holy Spirit to lead your awareness of the words.

Third Exercise, Oratio: Prayer

Let your heart speak to God.

Use the words of the Scripture passage or the thoughts that emerged during your reflection on them.

Fourth Exercise, Contemplatio: Contemplate in silence and quiet.

Let go of words or thoughts and allow yourself to rest in the presence of God