The Feast of the Visitation

“Blessed are you, Mary, exalted Daughter of Sion! You are highly favored and full of grace, for the Spirit of God descended upon you. We magnify the Lord and rejoice with you for the gift of the Word made flesh, our bread of life and cup of joy. Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament our model of prayer in the Cenacle, pray for us that we may become what we receive, the body of Christ your Son. Amen”

Associates gathered in Lutz at the Bethany Retreat Center on Saturday, May 31, for a Day of Prayer. After breakfast and Morning Prayer, a little fun created by two of our youngest Associates warmed the audience before Father Fickel dived into a spirituality found in the height of contemplation.

Enflamed by Divine Love

Were not our hearts burning within as he spoke to us on the way… Luke 24:32. Inner birth seated in spiritual tradition through various perspectives allows the vision of transformation; Spiritual practices incorporated with intentional silence become essential in this type of spiritual awakening. New life is a reincarnation in the Word of God revealed internally. What is born of flesh is flesh, and that born of spirit is spirit. “You must be born from above”, John 3:7. Jesus spoke of mortals as cases of mistaken identity, never encountering the truth of self. Development requires a truthful relationship with God separated from the trappings of worldly interference and inner conflicts. Our faith traditionally acknowledges and credits the Holy Spirit in the work of this spiritual awakening and transformation. The fire of the Holy Spirit purifies and cleanses all that is undesirable in the eyes of God, and the gifts aid in a new life experience that establishes harmony, inner peace, and solidarity among our brothers and sisters and all of creation.

Were not our hearts burning?

As the time approached to greet our Lord for the day, we shuttled over the glistening wet path and across the creek to Saint James Chapel; a deer curiously watched from the field as the gentle morning rain faded and a brightness enveloped the sky. The view of Lake Mary through the chapel windows is always a sight to behold.

We entered Adoration, anticipating the visit of the real presence of Christ. At the entrance, approaching the altar, the relic of Saint Peter and the image of Mary in the painting by Ellen Shadle greeted us. We turned to Mary’s life centered at temple prayer as a young girl chosen as a precious vessel for the Son of God; the Word made flesh, conceived by the Holy Spirit; by her Fiat, she became the new Ark of the Covenant, our Model of Faith, Hope, and Charity. The loop of grace was conceived and blossomed forth.

The chapel music revealed the beauty of the earlier hidden voices as if answering to our Lord in the Eucharist, in recognition of his presence with us through this day, our hearts and voices sharing in the richness of the Mystery.

Transformation comes through trust, faith, and joyful acceptance of the Will of God; by sharing the sacrifice of the cross, we witness what true love is. How can I, like Mary, magnify the Lord through the Gift of Self in Community, Prayer, and Service? We joyfully introduce to you the new members.

Mrs Gloria Jung
Newsletter - May 2025