This is unbelievable. So may God bless you and your work this day, as he so clearly does. Then, what you have learned here at Maryvale will come to its true fulfillment! Jesus was close to her heart; already she loved him beyond all telling. – but there is a deep sense of the reality of humanity, a deep sense that the encounter between the two women, is in fact a meeting of four people, even if S. John and Our Lord are hidden beneath the protruding bellies of their mothers. Archbishop Lori’s Homily: Feast of the Visitation, Maryvale Baccalaureate Mass. As tonight’s Gospel from St. Luke opens, we find Mary, carrying the Child Jesus in her womb, on her way to the meet Elizabeth, the mother of the prophet, John the Baptist. May 31, 2018. I’m delighted to celebrate this, your Baccalaureate Mass, as you give thanks to God for the blessings of your years at Maryvale and as you look towards a future full of hope. And that is something you certainly learned to do here at Maryvale as you spent time serving at Sarah’s Hope in West Baltimore, Happy Helpers for the Homeless, Camp St. Vincent’s and Horizon Day Camp. Tags: Homily for Friday May 31 2019, Homily for the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mons. In doing that, rooted in the Faith, you also present people unwittingly with Christ. As you join Mary on this journey and arrive with her at Elizabeth’s house what can you learn as you prepare for your journey from Maryvale into a new and challenging future? Many of you also continued to serve in your local parishes on the weekends and some of you served as extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist. A native of Louisville, Ky., Archbishop Lori holds a bachelor's degree from the Seminary of St. Pius X in Erlanger, Ky., a master's degree from Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg and a doctorate in sacred theology from The Catholic University of America. As Mary made the difficult trek through the hill country of Judea, she carried in her blessed womb the Savior of the World, the Lord Jesus Christ. Through the ages, Mary’s words echo, “My soul rejoices in the Lord!”. In addition to up-and-coming architects, builders and engineers, your class also includes some fine actors who have earned statewide recognition for productions such as the drama, Radium Girls, and the musical, Annie. Mary who rejoiced with her cousin Elizabeth also stood beneath the Cross. First, let’s recall that Mary did not journey alone to Elizabeth’s house. Finally, the Visitation is all about joy. It is a school rooted in the Catholic faith, a place where you have had many opportunities to come to know the Lord Jesus and to grow in your relationship with the Lord and with the Church. As Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant in her womb … The Blessed Virgin Mary turns that approach on its head just as her Son Jesus would do when he taught us that it is better to give than receive. Open your hearts to the Lord daily and stay close to the Lord through Sunday Mass, daily prayer, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and more. Yet, Mary’s whole life was one of joyful faith and thanksgiving. Every one of you is headed to college and next year you’ll be matriculating in many fine colleges and universities. I’m delighted to celebrate this, your Baccalaureate Mass, as you give thanks to God for the blessings of your years at Maryvale and as you look towards a future full of hope. Maryvale is a school founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and continues to be a school in the tradition of those pioneering sisters. Even before he was born, Mary brought Jesus to Elizabeth. The work you carry out here is an extension of this beautiful revelation. Feast of the Visitation You might say that your life here at Maryvale has been a journey – a journey of growth in so many facets of your lives. In some real way, the Gospel reminds us of the fundamental truth of the dignity of all human life. When you never reach out to help, you always assume your problems are the greatest in the world but in truth, everyone has a cross to carry. There’s a second lesson we can learn as we walk with Mary, and it’s this: Continue to be those young women who go out of your way for others. Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of the Visitation of the B.V.M. That is what Mary did. So my parting words to you are – don’t lose your joy, no matter what. We celebrated yesterday the Feast of the Visitation. Prior to his appointment to Baltimore, Archbishop Lori served as Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn., from 2001 to 2012 and as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington from 1995 to 2001. All in all, your class completed some 11,500 service hours – that’s about 172 hours per student, and some of you exceeded the average. Instead, as Pope Francis likes to say, she left her comfort zone and made a difficult journey out of love for her cousin. God calls the Catholics of the Archdiocese of Baltimore to be a welcoming, worshipping community of faith, hope, and love. Mary had just learned the stupendous news that she was called by God to be the Mother of Jesus, our Savior. Michael McGivney, Watch Archbishop Lori celebrate Mass for the Solemnity of Christ the King, Archbishop Lori’s Homily: Solemnity of Jesus Christ King of the Universe. Absolutely unbelievable. I mention these accomplishments simply as indicators of the many blessings all of you have experienced here at Maryvale over these past four years and I join you in giving thanks first and foremost to God who is the source of every blessing in our lives. In acts of charity, and in those moments where you seem to be the only person who cares for a young woman in distress, your contribution is vital – not because it’s you there, but because you have the honour of bringing Christ to them, so that he can infuse their hearts and souls with his love and his grace. As you look toward the future, be sure to stay close to Jesus. It would be verging on the irresponsible to miss a chance to say something about today’s feast of the Visitation in the context of the important work you undertake here at the Good Counsel Network. Through his Spirit, the Lord Jesus lives in those who believe, and reaches into our world with his saving message and healing love. Today we are met with two pregnant women whose children will not only change their lives, but the entire course of human history. And the secret of life is this: when you help someone carry his cross, yours become lighter. I had a very early start this morning in order to participate in a Research Seminar on Liturgical Studies at…. Let no nothing and no one rob you of your joy but instead replenish your joy from the same fountain that Mary replenished hers – the God who not only loves us but the God who is love! But in loving Jesus, Mary did not keep Jesus just for herself. The Church’s word for bringing Jesus to others is – evangelization – It’s all about bringing the joy of the Gospel to others just as Mary and Elizabeth rejoiced in the presence of the long-awaited Savior. Dear friends, as we celebrate the Visitation of Mary today, we too are called to develop the habit of visiting others, not simply our friends but those in need of help. We are proud of you and we have high hopes for you. You are able, through what you do, to continue that Gospel of Life, drawing others to understand the basic fact that life is a sacred gift, not a manufactured commodity. And yet. Amen. May the prayers of S. Elizabeth, S. John the Baptist, and Our Lady, support you in all you undertake. In S. Elizabeth’s womb, the young S. John the Baptist leaps for joy as he first encounters Christ who, in the womb of Our Blessed Lady, draws the whole world to himself, even before his birth.