May 31 - The feast of the Visitation commemorates an episode from the Gospel according to Luke 1, 39-56: Mary's visit, pregnant with Christ, to her cousin Elizabeth, pregnant with John the Baptist.

It commemorates the feast of two unborn children, Jesus and his cousin John the Baptist. Through the feast of the Visitation, the mission of John the Baptist is confirmed, his prophetic vocation is to prepare and announce the coming of Jesus among men by leaping into his mother's womb. It is also on this occasion that Mary, filled with the Holy Spirit, pronounces the Magnificat which underlines the profound link between Hope (virtue) and Faith.

This feast was established in 1263 by St. Bonaventure for the Franciscans. It was extended to the whole Church in 1379 by Pope Urban VI. The Council of Basel, in its session of July 10, 1441, confirmed it, because it had not been initially accepted by some States faithful to the antipapals during the Great Schism.

This feast was formerly celebrated on 2 July in accordance with the Gospel according to Luke, which reports that Mary would have remained with Elizabeth until the birth of John the Baptist (and assuming that she remained there for the additional eight days corresponding to the rites of the imposition of the name). However, the liturgical calendar has abandoned this traditional date, placing the feast on the last day of May, i.e. at the end of the Marian month.