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 that is  mighty  hath  done  great  things  to  me,  and  holy  is  His name. And His  mercy  is  from  generation  unto  generation,  to them  that  fear  Him. He hath  shown  might  with  His  arm:  He hath  scattered  the  proud  in  the  imagination  of  their  heart. He hath put  down  the  mighty  from  their  seat,  and  hath  exalted  the humble. He hath  filled  the  hungry  with  good  things;  and  the rich he  hath  sent  empty  away. He hath  upholden  Israel  His servant, being  mindful of  His  mercy. As He  spoke  to  our  fathers, Abraham and  his  seed  for  ever.”  Mary  abode  with  her  cousin about three  months;  then  she  returned  to  Nazareth.

The Divinity  of  Jesus  Christ.  Elizabeth,  inspired  by  the  Holy Ghost, testified  to  the  Divinity  of  Jesus  when  she  called  Mary  the  Mother of God; for,  if  Mary  is  the  Mother  of  God,  her  Son  must  be  God.

Mary is  the  Mother  of  God.  The  Holy  Ghost  has  called  her  so by  the  mouth  of  Elizabeth.

The dignity  of  the  Mother  of  God  is  inconceivably  high,  for,  as Mother  of  God,  Mary  is  nearer  than  any  other  creature,  nearer  even than the  highest  angel,  to  the  Blessed  Trinity. Mary, being  nearest  of all  creatures  to  God,  who  is  the  source  of  all  dignity  and  grace,  holds the highest  place  amongst  all  creatures  in  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  is the  Queen  of  all  Saints.

Veneration of  the  Mother  of  God.  In  the  Magnificat  Mary  said prophetically: “From  henceforth  all  generations  shall  call  me  blessed.” This prophecy  has  been  fulfilled  in  the  Catholic  Church,  for  our  holy Church honours  our  Lady  by  special  feasts  and  special  devotions. How would it  be  possible  not  to  pay  honour  to  her  whom  God  raised  to such  a high  dignity,  and  praised  in  such  a manner  by  the  mouths  of Gabriel  and  Elizabeth! Our veneration  of  the  holy  Mother  of  God  is well  founded  both  on  Holy  Scripture  and  on  reason.

It is  on  account  of  her  Divine  Son  that  we  honour  Mary.  When the Holy  Ghost,  by  the  mouth  of  Elizabeth,  said:  “Blessed  art  thou among women,  and  blessed  is  the  fruit  of  thy  womb  (Jesus)”,  He  testified to  the  close  connexion  that  lies  between  the  veneration  of  the