Professor Jean Galot SJ – Rome: Missionary Mary

After reporting the episode of Mary’s encounter with the Angel in the Annunciation, Luke the Evangelist describes for us the feelings that overcame the Virgin of Nazareth in her haste to share with Elisabeth her great joy for the coming of the Messiah. After giving her full consent for the angel’s plan, and personally showing her complete availability, Mary could have stopped for a moment to reflect upon this event so suddenly revealed to her.

An effort was certainly needed to better understand the meaning of the motherhood she had been offered as a mysterious divine gift. Nevertheless, although she reflected upon the importance of this exceptional gift, Mary did not want to keep it to herself but preferred to share her happiness with others.

The message she had received involved a mission; in her generosity, Mary wanted to share with others the knowledge of this announced wonder, and allow others into the joy of the Messianic hope now fulfilling its promises. Aware of this mission, Mary assumed a responsibility as the first female missionary in the world.

We see in her the very characteristics of the missionary impetus. The first characteristic is that involving enthusiasm, eagerness to proclaim the truth it wishes to spread. This enthusiasm finds its source in the joy of the Annunciation: the name of the Daughter of Zion, Mary had been invited to allow herself to be moved by the Messianic joy. This joy must always be present in the missionary presentation. The language used by the evangelist to describe Mary’s initiative is significant: "During those days" seems to attract attention to a new period of time during which hope for redemption affected humankind more intensely. Those days are in continuity with the day of the Annunciation but also with a certain novelty. Many translate: "Mary travelled", but more literally Luke says: "Mary set off…" (Luke 1,39). The verb therefore emphasises her personal initiative. This will also be the verb used to describe the Resurrection. The spiritual strength made manifest later in Christ’s resurrection first appears in the events of the Visitation.

There is not only the impetus of impatience, but also a movement of the whole soul, committed with great joy in this encounter animated by faith. The entire event takes place "in a hurry"; this is the urgency of faith wishing to communicate its richness. More crucially, it is the urgency felt by God Himself in His wish to spread the good news of Redemption throughout the universe.

The path of the Visitation is the path followed by the first evangelisation. All the truth of the Gospel entering the house that had received it, through the intervention of John the Baptist, preparing the Saviour’s last coming can be found in the gesture made by Mary as she entered the house of Zachariah and Elisabeth. This Coming is completely fulfilled with the special bestowal of the Holy Spirit, filling all those in this house.

Happiness in faith

The episode of the Visitation emphasises in particular the happiness of faith. Elisabeth’s words underline Mary’s happiness, however, to understand this happiness it is important to translate: "Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled".

There are two possible translations for the Greek particle "oti", that can have two meanings: "that" and "because". Translating "that" would implicate reducing the affirmation to a banality, because it is obvious that he who believes, believes what has been said by the Lord. On the other hand, the style of the beatitude implies indicating the reason of the beatitude. Those who believe are happy because all that has been said by the Lord will be fulfilled.

Mary is called blessed because through her faith she the angel’s message is fulfilled.