It is in properly understanding why Our Lady sets out in haste to the hill country to visit
St. Elizabeth that we begin to understand the mystery of the Church. For if we took one error,
then we would simply say Our Lady went there in order to congratulate Elizabeth for her miraculous
conception and to care for her and her husband's bodily needs. If we took another error,
the error would have just simply told Our Lady to stay home and not to bother. And so we see again
how a reaction contrary to the Gospel understanding has either one of two forms.
The liberal would not focus on the main reason for Our Lady's departing. The other would just
simply say to stay home and leave them to fend for themselves.
And so it is in understanding that Our Lord came as the Good Shepherd that we can understand
why Our Lady sets out in haste to the hill country. For we talk about the pastoral activity
of the Church, which is nothing but a word that comes from the very word, the pastor, that is
the one who takes care of a flock. And so Our Lady sets out in haste because Our Lord desires to begin
His mission as Savior even before He is born in the cave at Bethlehem. And so as Our Lord received
a mission from His Father, so Our Lady receives a mission also from the Blessed Trinity to cooperate
in the pastoral activity of Christ, that is, that activity by which He goes out to save the world.
And so we must constantly remind ourselves that in our journeys about in all that we do,
our primary reason is that we are not alone. We are not alone in our journey. We are not alone in our
journey. We are not alone in our journey. We are not alone in our journey. Our primary reason should
always and everywhere to try to bring salvation to souls. And so a kind word to the teller is an
instrument of God's grace. Any act of charity that we perform with that intention to bring the Savior
to them helps us cooperate in the mission of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, which was ultimately
the mission of Christ. He desired to begin His activity as Savior immediately, and it would begin
with the sanctification of Saint John the Baptist, Elizabeth and Zechariah during her visit to them at
their home at their home, in which Saint John the Baptist would be born. And so let us truly rejoice
for our Lady sets out in haste and also enjoy. So the joy of the incarnation must always be in our
hearts because we know the suffering of the Cross is what we are called to do. And it is the joy of
the incarnation that is.
understanding the reason why this Lamb of the Blessed Virgin Mary
gave his life for our sake, that truly inspires us
and helps us to be willing to go forward in all that we do
in order to cooperate in the pastoral activity of the Church,
that activity by which we recognize the dignity of each and every human being,
not according to liberal or traditional concerns,
but according to that which Scripture teaches us,
that we have that same concern, that same respect for the dignity of every human being
because that dignity is in the fact that Christ came in order to save them.
And so we do not engage them in conversation
because we engage them in conversation for conversation's sake,
nor do we simply disregard all those who are not members of the Church
according to a particular line of thought
and leave them adrift, feeling that they are unworthy
even to hear the Gospel news spread to them.
This is not the mission of the Church.
The mission of the Church is very precise,
and it is the same mission of Our Lady.
We recognize the dignity of each human being
because their soul was purchased by the shedding of the Lamb of the Virgin Mary,
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Calvary.
And so an infinite price was paid for every soul.
And so every soul is worthy of the activities of conquest of Holy Mother Church,
that is, those activities by which we desire to win all souls
for the Kingdom of Christ in this life
in order that they may attain eternal blessedness in the life to come.
And so during this season, there is much that we learn that we ought to avoid,
and there is much that we learn
that we ought to do.
And so let us always and everywhere remember
that the Church was established with a mission.
That mission is pastoral.
That mission will not change.
It will not pass away,
no matter what type of philosophy tries to do away with it
or to justify another approach.
The mission of the Church is pastoral.
That is, it is a mission to go forth and to claim all souls.
Indeed, it will be the final and great commandment
of our Lord to his Apostles, and hence to all disciples,
that is, all baptized members of the Holy Church,
to somehow go forth and cooperate,
because our Lord said,
go forth and baptize all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
That activity cannot be done unless we are actually out there actively
seeking and striving for those souls
that Christ offered his life on Calvary for.
And so, from the time she is established
until the time the Lord comes,
the Church will be active in the conquest of souls,
and it is to good Catholics everywhere
to cooperate in that mission according to God's will in their life.
And so, we have much to do,
for the world seems to be contrary to the Incarnation,
contrary to the mission of the Immaculate,
and that contrariness
has crept within the very mystical body of Christ
by two forms of errors
that have nothing to do with the mission of Christ,
and hence have nothing to do with the mission of the Immaculate.
And so, let us strive to resolve always
to be found cooperating,
so that we too are willing
to go in haste at all times
and at all places
in the conquest of souls,
as is the Immaculate Virgin Mary this day,
and as she is ready to do each and every day,
of her life,
even her heavenly life.
For there is not one corner of this world
that Our Lady would not use a soul
consecrated to her
to go into and seek those souls
that are dwelling there,
whether it be the holiest of places
or whether it be the most depraved of places.
Our Lady desires only one thing,
that they too receive
the visitation of the Christ Child
as Saint Elizabeth's family,
would shortly receive that visitation
through the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary.
And so, let us always strive
to intercede with Our Lord and His Mother,
so that the missionary activity of the Church
can continue,
and that no one may thwart it,
and that all efforts to thwart it,
either by excess or defect,
may ultimately be crushed by her,
who crushes all heresy in all forms,
whether there be an attractive form
or a non-attractive form.
There should be no sympathetic
attachment to any error
that would thwart the mission of Christ.
And so, let us pray this day
that Our Lady crushes the head
of that infernal serpent,
especially where He tries to block
the missionary activity of the Church,
no matter how He does it
and no matter who He uses.
Let us pray that that error is destroyed,
so that the mission of the Immaculate,
may continue unabated until the end of time,
that mission to bring Christ to souls.
She begins it by bringing Christ
to St. John the Baptist,
to St. Elizabeth and St. Zechariah,
and she continues to do it
and will continue to do it
until the end of time.
And so, we must be found cooperating with her,
not being contrary to her.
And if we do our part,
then ultimately we will receive that
for which the Savior came to the world,
to sanctify us in this life,
to give us the grace to remain faithful to Him,
in order that we may enjoy Him
for all eternity in the life to come.
Let us pray.