SACHS Celebrates the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth

On May, 31st 2023, St. Anthony’s High School Celebrated the feast of the visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth. The mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Anthony Omodunbi, the school Chaplain and con-celebrated by Rev. Fr. Cyril Oni, the school principal.

During the homily, the homilist, Rev. Fr. Anthony Omodunbi spoke on the following points:

-We should pray the Rosary because the content is simply biblical prayers; the Lord’s Prayer and Hail Mary and both were taken from the Bible.

-The visitation of Elizabeth by Mary was necessary as it revealed the glory that was already in the family of Zechariah and Elizabeth. That visitation was needed to reveal such glory because God had promised Zechariah a child who’s going to be the fore runner of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist and so Elizabeth would not hold it and said, “Immediately your greeting entered my ears, the baby in my womb lept for joy…” Elizabeth said to Mary, “This baby you are carrying is not just an ordinary child, he is a child that is destined for the glory, the rising and falling of many in Israel, who will prepare the way of the lord.

-The visitation was also needed because at that time, Elizabeth needed help and Mary stayed with her for three months. 

-We also need the help of the virgin Mary and we need her visitation.

-One of the ways to constantly be refilled by the Holy Spirit is having a true devotion to Mary. This is because the Bible makes it so clear that immediately the greetings of Mary got to the ears of Elizabeth, that she, Elizabeth, was filled with the Holy Spirit. The first person in the New Testament that was spoken of, of having direct encounter with the Holy Spirit was Mary as early as Luke chapter one. During the annunciation of the birth of Jesus, Mary said, “How will it be, I do not know a man, how will I conceive, how will the promise come to pass?” Angel Gabriel simply said, “The Holy Spirit will overshadow you.”

-The Bible records that the person who first actually impacted Holy Spirit on another person in the New Testament is Mary, just her words, her greeting alone was enough to make another person to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

-John chapter 2, gave another instance of Mary being invited to the wedding feast at Canaan in Galilee which was a remarkable one. At a point in time, there was no wine. She didn’t allow them to complain before going to Jesus to tell him to make wine available. She really removed their shame on that day.

-Angel Gabriel brought the good news, “Hail Mary full of grace the lord is with you” and handed the baton to Elizabeth who said, “blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.” The baton has been handed over to us.

-We need the visitation of the blessed Virgin Mary in our lives, to turn our sorrow to joy, to take away our pains, to grant success to the work of our hands.

-Going through the scripture, anywhere you see Mary, you’ll see Jesus. When the angels were addressing the shepherds they said whenever you see mother, you will see the son.

-The homilist therefore admonished everyone to make it a point of duty starting from that day of the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth to make a decision to always pray two to three Hail Mary, the angelus at 6am, “we fly to the patronage,” the memorare or even pray the rosary daily. This will help us to begin the day with the intercession of Mary.

 The homilist concluded by admonishing everyone to make decision to constantly invite Mary to his or her life by either praying, “We fly to the Patronage”, or The Memorare 

We Fly to Thy Patronage

“We fly to thy patronage. Oh Holy Mother of God, despise not our prayers in our necessities but deliver us from all dangers, oh ever glorious and blessed Virgin Mary.”

The Memorare

“Remember Most gracious Virgin Mary that never was it known that anyone who fly to your protection implore your aid, sought your intercession was left unaided, inspired by this confidence, I come unto you, oh virgin of virgins, My Mother to thee I come, to you I stand sinful and sorrowful, oh Mother of the word incarnate despise not my petitions but in your mercy hear and answer me.

Amen”