The Angel Gabriel had announced to Mary that God would soon give a son to Elizabeth. The Virgin at once betook herself to Hebron where her cousin resided: that is the mystery of the Visitation. Mary visits Elizabeth and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, exclaims: “Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.” It was then that Mary answered with the wonderful canticle, the Magnificat. The feast of the Visitation was instituted in 1389 by Urban VI and fixed on July 2 as the continuation of the former octave of St. John the Baptist.