The Visitation

In his work Purgatorio (the second part of the Divine Comedy), Dante arranges the levels of Purgatory according to the 7 Deadly Sins in order to show how the wounds caused by sin are healed by a corresponding virtue. At each level, a certain punishment is given in order to heal that sin and grow in that virtue. He also gives a verse of Scripture connected to Mary (Queen of Virtue) to exemplify the virtue. It is interesting that, for the sin of Sloth, he gives the line, “She [Mary] went in haste to the hill country.” This line comes from the scene in Luke 2 where Mary, having just been visited by the angel, makes her way to Elizabeth to take care of her in her pregnancy. Dante uses this to show that the virtue that counters sloth is zeal for the mission that God has called each of us to. 

We actually celebrated this occasion, the Visitation of Mary, yesterday. The meaning of this occasion is to show Mary’s faith in the message she has received: she goes to Elizabeth, not to confirm what the angel has said, but because she already believes it and knows that Elizabeth (being pregnant at an older age) will need help. The reason Dante makes this connection, though, with his Purgatorio is to highlight the haste, the eagerness with which she goes to Elizabeth. Having just been filled with the Holy Spirit, she is lit on fire with love and zeal for God’s mission. Mary, compelled by the Spirit, goes in haste to share the Good News that she has just received, to share in the joy of each other’s great gifts they have received from God (Jesus and John), and to take up the work of caring for Elizabeth. 

In our own lives, if we are struggling with a tepidness in our faith, if we are struggling to stay active in our devotion and good works, ask the Holy Spirit for that fire that burned within Mary’s heart. During this celebration of Pentecost, may we all receive a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit so that we may all be prompted to carry out the mission that God has given to us!