Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation on December 13, 2022 in a recollection for priests at St. Aidan's parish Toronto.

After the annunciation, Mary went with haste, 80 km away to Ain Karim. Not slowly, uninterested. The hill country of Judah, would have been understood as the land of David. Where he grew up. She went with meaning and a sense of purpose. This too is how we must see our vocation. Go with haste. It is the opposite of any form of procrastination in our duties.

St. Josemaria says that this is an act of loyalty:

Furrow 371: Turn your eyes towards the Blessed Virgin and see how she practises the virtue of loyalty. When Elizabeth needs her, the Gospel says that she went cum festinatione — joyfully making haste. Learn from her!

Music: Alfred Cottin, Habanera played by Bert Alink.

Thumbnail: Pieter de Jode II (1606–ca. 1674) after Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640), The Visitation, 1625–74. Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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