Elizabeth's Voice
Miserere miseris
Voices Found #8
Miserere miseris fons misericordie
Si misera furets parit aula glorie,
honor nostri generis, archa novi federi et aurora gracie:
certe si volueris, o benigna potessi dare locum venie.
Have mercy on those who suffer, Fount of Mercy.
You were merciful enough to bear the Prince of Glory;
honor our race, ark of the new covenant, dawn of grace:
surely if you wish, O kind Lady,
you can grant us peace and pardon.
Words: Latin 13th C; tran. and tr. Susan Hellauer
Music: Dublin Troper, Irish, ca. 1390
Dear Mary,
Zechariah cannot speak. I don't think he can hear well, either. He had a vision from a Messenger named Gabriel, who said our prayers for a child have been answered! Gabriel told him we would have a son and we should name him John; he would be a holy son filled with the Spirit even in my womb. Zech could not believe it and he raised some questions. Apparently questioning an angel was a bad idea. Gabriel told Zech he would be silenced until the birth of our son. So Zech is mute! Like my husband, I had trouble believing the astonishing news; but here I am, old and pregnant, filled with joy but also dread.
It would be a great mercy if you would come to stay with us for a while. We both feel overwhelmed with this astonishing news! I have decided to stay hidden for the first 5 months. We have heard that Herod still wants to kill baby boys. I need to keep this holy child safe. You may also be in danger. We will be safer together. We have been chosen to care for God's holy children.
Your loving cousin,
Elizabeth
So Mary set out and went to the hill country, with haste. She entered the house of Zechariah and Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's voice, the holy baby John leaped in her womb. Elizabeth said to Mary,"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb."
Luke 1:42, tr. Gafney
KJV says Elizabeth hid herself for 5 months. Gafney does not offer a translation of Luke 1, vs 24 but states in her notes that the language around her seclusion is quite strong.
When she heard her cousin's greeting,
Mary's heart was filled with joy.
so she sang of God's great blessing
promised in her baby boy:
"God has looked on me with favor,
so I sing this song of praise.
God has worked the proud to scatter
humble hungry ones to raise."
Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette
Music: Ecce Deus, Alfred V. Fedak
From where does this visit come to me? That the mother of my Sovereign comes to me? Look! As soon as I heard the sound of your greeting in my ear, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Now blessed is she who believed that there would be fulfillment of those things spoken to her by the Holy One. Luke 1:43-45, tr. Gafney
Luke does not explain why Mary went to visit Elizabeth. It may be that Mary needed the comfort of her older cousin. However, I think Elizabeth reached out to Mary, a young woman of prayer and mercy. Elizabeth would have needed emotional and physical support through her geriatric pregnancy. Her husband could not provide much help since he was mute, possibly deaf. In her notes to the gospel translation, Gafney points out that there was much for pregnant women to fear in their world. A disreputable pregnancy could bring complications, death, even harassment by the empire: Herod wanted to eliminate baby boys.
Meditation
Elizabeth blessed Mary. Perhaps hers was the first blessing addressed to Mary. Her words, with Gabriel's greeting, have formed a beloved prayer which has been a comfort for many. Here, as a meditation, is the Latin Ave Maria, with its traditional English translation. The last two lines are not in Luke, but have been added as a prayer of petition. You often hear it with the famous Franz Schubert musical setting.
Ave Maria, gratia plena, | Hail Mary, full of grace, |
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