And Mary said to the angel, How shall this be, since I know no man? The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; wherefore also the Holy One who is born shall be called the Son of God. Behold, Elizabeth, thy kinswoman, who is called barren, and she conceived a son in her old age, and she is already six months old; for with God no word will be powerless.

Then Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to Me according to thy word.

And the Angel departed from Her.

6. The Blessed Virgin visits Elizabeth.

Lux. 1, 39-56.

And Mary arose in these days, and went in haste to the hill country, to the city of Judah. And she went into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and cried out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb!" And whence is it to me that the Mother of my Lord has come to me? For when the voice of Thy greeting came to my ears, the babe leaped with joy in my womb. And blessed is she who believes, for what was spoken to her from the Lord will be fulfilled.

And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and My spirit rejoices in God My Saviour, because He has looked upon the humility of His Servant; for from henceforth all generations shall bless me; that the Mighty One hath made me great, and his name is holy; And His mercy unto them that fear Him throughout generations: He shewed the strength of His arm; He scattered the haughty in the thoughts of their hearts; He hath cast down the mighty from their thrones, and hath exalted the humble; He filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty; He received Israel, His child (chosen one, beloved), remembering mercy, as He had spoken to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed for ever.

And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

7. The birth and circumcision of the Forerunner.

Lux. 1, 57-80.

And the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had magnified His mercy upon her, and they rejoiced with her.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child and wanted to name him, after the name of his father, Zacharias. To this his mother said, "No; but to call him John. And they said to her, There is no one in thy kinsman who is called by this name.

And they asked his father by signs what he would like to call him. He demanded a tablet and wrote: John is his name. And everyone was surprised. And immediately his mouth and his tongue were opened, and he began to speak, blessing God. And fear was upon all who dwelt around them; and they told all these things throughout all the hill country of Judah. And all those who heard it put it in their hearts, and said, What shall this child be? And the hand of the Lord was with him.