Catholic Activity: Jesse Tree, Option 2 - The Visitation

Symbols: Our Lady's Slipper

"Arise, make haste, my love, my dove, my beautiful one, and come. For winter is now past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers have appeared in our land, the time of pruning is come; the voice of the turtle is heard in our land. The fig tree has put forth her green figs; the vines in flower yield their sweet smell. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come. My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hollow places of the wall, show me your face. Let your voice sound in my ears, for your voice is sweet, and your face comely." (Song of Songs 2:10-14)

After hearing from the Angel Gabriel that Mary's cousin Elizabeth was about to have a son in her old age, Mary immediately traveled to visit her cousin. This was such a beautiful moment of cousins to have that shared wonder of God's blessings upon them. When John the Baptist as a babe in the womb hears Mary's voice, he leaps for joy. The Church has marked this as the moment that John was cleansed of original sin. And the exchange between Mary and Elizabeth we have part of the Hail Mary and the Canticle of Mary or Magnificat, that the faithful pray daily.

(The Visitation is one option to insert in the Jesse Tree and replace another figure. See also Option 1, The Annunciation.)

DIRECTIONS

Recommended Readings:

• Luke 1:39-47
• Luke 7:28
• Genesis 18:14
• Songs 2:8-14

Selections from The Catechism of the Catholic Church:

• CCC 148-149 Mary—"Blessed is she who believed"
• CCC 495 Mary's divine motherhood
• CCC 717 John, Precursor, Prophet and Baptist
• CCC 721-722 "Rejoice, you who are full of grace"
• CCC 2096-2097 Adoration
• CCC 2617-2622 The prayer of the Virgin Mary

Jesse Tree Overview
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Printable PDF Jesse Tree guide: The Jesse Tree: Advent 2023

Activity Source: Original Text (JGM) by Jennifer Gregory Miller, © Copyright 2003-2023 by Jennifer Gregory Miller