May 1 - Beltane  - Druid/Viking/Neopagan
Also known as May Day, it marks the beginning of May, and the height of Spring
and the flowering of life. The day represents the Sacred Union & Fertility. The May
Queen (May Bride) is personification of the Earth Goddess and Goddesses of
Fertility. The May King (May Groom) as personification of Vegetation God, Jack-in-
Green, often covered in green leaves.  It is the symbolic union of the Goddess and
the God, called the Sacred Marriage (union of male and female/heaven and earth).
Beltane is a festival of flowers, fertility, sensuality, and delight.

Beltane is celebrated approximately halfway between Vernal (spring) equinox and
the midsummer (Summer Solstice).  Beltane, and its counterpart Samhain
(Holloween), divide the year into its two primary seasons, winter (Dark Part) and
summer (Light Part). As Samhain is about honoring Death, Beltane honors Life. It is
the time when the sun is fully released from it’s bondage of winter and able
to rule over summer and life once again.  Beltane, like Samhain, is a time when the
veils between the physical and spiritual/metaphysical worlds are at their thinnest.
The two worlds intermingle and unite, giving an otherwordly feel to the day. When
the veils are thin, spirits can pass between worlds, so that the recently departed
can go to their place in the next world, and we can call on the help of the righteous
departed for help in our own lives.

In ancient Ireland there was a Sacred Tree named Bile, which was the center of the
clan. As the Irish Tree of Life, the Bile Pole, represents the connection between
the people and the three worlds of Bith: The Skyworld (heavens), The Middleworld
(our world), and The Otherworld. Although no longer the center life, the Bile pole
has survived as the Beltane Maypole.  The Maypole itself is not only phallic, but
also connects the three worlds. Dancing around the Maypole creates a conduit of
energy, connecting all three worlds at a time when these gateways are more easily
penetrable. As people dance around the pole with brightly colored ribbons, the
energy raised is sent down into the earth's womb, bringing about Her full
awakening and fruitfulness.  The Maypole represents the phallus and the unity of
male and female (people and cosmic forces) with the pole itself being the God and
the ribbons that encompass it, the Goddess.

As Beltane marks this handfasting (wedding) of the Goddess and God, it too marks
the reawakening of the earth's fertility in its fullest. This is the union between the
Great Mother and her Young Consort, this coupling brings new life on earth. It is
on a Spiritual level, the unifying of the Divine Masculine and the Divine Feminine
to bring forth the third, consciousness. On the physical, it is the union of the Earth
and Sun to bring about the fruitfulness of the growing season.  Integration of the
male and female aspects of the Self has long been seen as one of the prime goals
of spiritual and psychotherapeutic work, and Beltane represents the time when we
can open to this work fully, allowing the natural union of polarities that occurs in
nature at this time the opportunity to help us in our work - a work that is essentially
alchemical.

May is the month of sensuality and sexuality reawakened, the return to life of the
Earth and Her Children. It is the time when we reawaken to the vivid colors, vibrant
scents, tingling summer breezes, and the rapture of summer after a long dormant
winter. It is a time of extraordinary expression of earth, animal, and person a time
of great enchantment and celebration.   It is the sheer joy of running through
fields, picking flowers, rapturing in the sunlight, delighting in the fragrance of
spring, dancing in the fresh dew covered grass.

In the old Celtic times, young people would spend the entire night in the woods "A-
Maying," and then dance around the phallic Maypole the next morning. Older
married couples were allowed to remove their wedding rings (and the restrictions
they imply) for this one night.  Pre-Christian society's thoughts on human sexuality
and fertility were a rather joyous expression of human passions. Life a joyful
dance, rich in all beauty it can afford.


Order of the Illuminati (a secret society studying and applying mystic knowledge,  
Tantric mysticism, and ceremonial magic)  was founded on this date in 1776, in
Bavaria by Adam Weishaupt.

Vappu Day (Finland) - Finland’s National Holiday, celebrates spring and begins on
April 30th.
Santa Cruzan Day (Philippines) - The first day of spring, commemorating day in the
4th century A.D. when St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine of Rome,
found the holy cross on which Jesus was crucified.
Flores, "flowers," also known as Flores de Mayo (flowers of May), Flores de Maria
(flowers of Mary) or alay (offering), may refer to the whole Flower Festival
celebrated in the month of May in honor of the Virgin Mary.
In the Tagalog region, this celebration began in 1854 after the proclamation of the
dogma of the Immaculate Conception. The festivity commemorates the search of
the Holy Cross by Queen Helena (Reina Elena) and her son, the newly converted
emperor Constantine. After the Holy Cross was found in Jerusalem and brought
back to Rome, there was a joyful celebration for thanksgiving.
Nine days of prayer (a novena) in honor of the Holy Cross precedes the Flores de
Mayo or Santacruzan. This festival was introduced by the Spaniards in the
Philippines and has since become part of Filipino traditions identified with youth,
love and romance.
May 1-3 Okoakyere Festival, Ghana

May 2 – Ysahodhara
The consort of the great god Buddha, is honored in India with a sacred festival that
takes place on this day each year.


May 3 - Bona Dea
In ancient Rome, an annual women's festival in honor of the earth goddess Bona
Dea. Sacrifices of sows were made to her in order to promote fertility in women,
and the unveiling of sacred objects for only women's eyes to see was included in
the celebration of her rites.  Bona Dea ("the Good Goddess") is a Roman fertility
goddess, especially worshipped by the Roman matrons. She presided over both
virginity and fertility in women. She is the daughter of the god Faunus and she
herself is often called Fauna. She had a temple on the Aventine Hill, but her secret
rites (on December 4) were not held there but in the house of a prominent Roman
magistrate. Only women were admitted and even representations of men and
beasts were removed. At these secret meetings it was forbidden to speak the
words 'wine' and 'myrtle' because Faunus had once made her drunk and beaten
her with a myrtle stick.
She was also a healing goddess and the sick were tended in her temple garden
with medicinal herbs. Bona Dea was portrayed sitting on a throne, holding a
cornucopia. The snake is her attribute, a symbol of healing, and consecrated
snakes were kept in her temple at Rome, indicating her phallic nature. Her image
could often be found on coins.

Fiesta de las Cruces (Peru) - Fiesta de Las Cruces (of the Crosses). The day before
the festival is the Dia de la Bajada, or the Day of the Descent, when crosses
throughout Cuzco are taken down from their hills and sanctuaries to the houses of
majordomos, affluent people in the neighbourhood who are willing to host the
celebration and cover the expenses (wine and food, new clothes for the cross etc).

The cross is received with the honours due to an arriving, and that same night the
wake, or velorio, is held. A fire is lit in front of the temporary house altar where the
cross stands, and people drink pisco and spirits. At midnight chicken soup or lamb
is consumed, following which a local band strikes up folk and popular music, and
people dance happily until morning.

The next day is the day of the celebration, when the cross is dressed in the best
fineries and taken to a special mass. A band of musicians and celebrants escort
the cross to the nearest church for mass. Following this it returns to the cargo-
wasi, or house of the host, where meals and wine are served up throughout the
day and the following night.

The day after the celebration is the kacharpari, or day of farewell. A farewell mass
is said, and in the evening the cross is taken back to its normal resting place.
Again, vast amounts of drinking, eating and dancing take place.


May 4
Fairy Day. According to Irish folklore, it is on this day that the mischievous fairy folk
emerge from their hiding places. To prevent human children from being stolen by
the fairies and replaced by grotesque changelings, an offering of tea and bread
must be left on the doorstep for the little people. For protection against fairies
while traveling (especially through heavily wooded areas or open fields), wear
your coat inside out. This is said to cause them such great confusion that they are
unable to cause any trouble.

Wesak (Buddhism) - The most important Buddhist festival, Wesak celebrates the
birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha as one event. Wesak is the most
important of the Buddhist festivals and is celebrated on the full moon in May. It
celebrates the Buddha's birthday, and, for some Buddhists, also marks his birth
and death.
Buddha literally means 'one who is awake' and has become enlightened. It is a term
that denotes a person who has attained the supreme wisdom and compassion of
Enlightenment.  To Buddhists Enlightenment is a blessed state in which the
individual attains Nirvana - the transcendence of desire and suffering which is the
stuff of this world. The festival is celebrated with much colour and gaiety. Homes
may be cleaned and decorated. In Thailand, for example, special Wesak lanterns
are made of paper and wood, and often there a large ceremonial releases of caged
birds.
In many countries during the festival, Buddhists will visit their local temple for
services and teaching, and will give offerings to the monks of food, candles and
flowers.  Chanting and praying are an important part of Wesak. The 'Bathing the
Buddha' ceremony is also often included. Water is poured over the shoulders of
the Buddha and serves as a reminder to purify the mind/heart from greed, hatred
and ignorance.


May 5
In various parts of Mexico and Central America, centuries-old rain ceremonies are
performed every year on this day by shamanic priests and priestesses of the Old
Faith. The ancient goddesses who preside over rain and fertility are honored and
invoked with prayers and offerings.

May 6
According to James Ussher, a 17th Century Bishop of Armagh and Primate of
Ireland, it was on this date in 2349 B.C. that Noah's Ark came to rest on the
mountains of Ararat. Ussher's precise date was determined by consulting a "sacred
and exotic history, astronomical calculation" and an old "Hebrew calendar."
Furthermore, Ussher stated, the day was a Wednesday.

May 7 - Thargelia
On this date (approximately), a festival called the Thargelia was celebrated by the
ancient Greeks and Ionians in honor of Apollo, the god of the sun, prophecy,
music, medicine, and poetry. The festival was held once a year on the sacred
island of Delos, the traditional birthplace of Apollo as well as the goddess Artemis.
It was both a vegetation festival and a ritual expiation of communal guilt. The first
day of the festival featured the cathartic rite of the pharmakos (scapegoat). One or
two persons, male or female, were selected to be a scapegoat. They were usually
criminals or outcasts, but occasionally an important person would sacrifice himself
or herself for the city. The scapegoat was fed, led through town, and then expelled
from the city. The rite of the pharmakos cleansed the town and prepared for the
new harvest.
Thargelia also included a first-fruits sacrifice in which a pot of the first grains were
offered to the gods. This was the act that officially kicked off the harvest season.
The festival concluded with a procession and the official registration of adopted
persons.

On the third Monday and Tuesday after Easter, English villagers traditionally used
ropes to "hock" (or catch) a member of the opposite sex. The captive gained
release by donating to the local church.

May 8
In Cornwall, England, the annual Furry Dance is performed in the streets of Helston
on this day in honor of the old Celtic Horned God in the guise of Robin Hood. The
festival, which features street dancing and a daylong procession throughout the
town for good fortune, is one of the oldest surviving springtime ceremonies in the
world.


Denise’s Birthday – Worldwide celebration of the birth of one of the founders of
ADI, Denise.


May 9
Ancient Romans believed that on May 9, May 11 and May 13, the gate between this
world and the next opened, allowing restless spirits or lemures to pour through.
Pacifying the ghosts required the male head of every household to rise at midnight
on each of the three nights, wash his hands three times and then stride through
the house spitting or tossing black beans behind him for the ghosts to gather. This
sequence was repeated nine times. Finally, he would was his hands once more,
strike a brass vessel and call out nine times: "Shades of my fathers depart!"
Despite these measures, the lemures cast a pall over the month, giving rise to the
belief that May marriages are unwise.
Rocket Festival, Thailand Buddhist
Traditionally, the rocket festival is the sixth Lunar month celebrating unity and
friendship, fighting against dry weather and requesting rain, by launching home-
made rockets into the sky.
In Thailand, the month of May is the beginning of the rainy season and farmers are
ready to begin planting their rice fields. The festival is associated with traditional
beliefs in the supernatural powers that help promote the production of rice crops
for the coming planting season. The legend has it that once there was a rain god
named Vassakan who loved to be worshipped with fire. The townspeople created a
rocket or 'Bang Fai' to send to heaven, where the god resided. They believed that
the god would hear their entreaties and bless them with plentiful rain for rice
cultivation.
Buddhist monks would be in attendance for the ceremony. The rockets, launch
platforms and other decorations for this event are prepared for several weeks
before the actual event. An average rocket is some nine metres in length and
carries 20-25 kilograms of gunpowder.  Originally the rockets were made out of
natural materials, but these days, they are slightly more sophisticated. Rockets are
packed with several kilos of gunpowder instead. In order to make the rocket
festival much more fun, various competitions for the biggest and highest flying
rocket are held, all conducted with the undying Thai spirit of 'sanook'.
The origins of Bun Bang Fai are not clear, but it is primarily a fertility rite, held just
before the rainy season gets underway - firing a phallic object into sky to fertilize it
and produce the rain essential to a successful rice crop and the very survival of
the people. The ritual is from an ancient time, when people lived in harmony with
nature and the seasons.  In addition to the preparation of rockets, there are some
Buddhist ceremonies such as water blessing rituals that the senior monks
perform.  The Rocket festival is the only annual chance the farmers have to
request rain from the god called  Phaya Thaen. Because of the strong belief held
since ancient times, when the land was dry and farmers did not have enough water
for rice production. So the rocket festival was instituted.

May 10
The sacred marriage of the god Shiva to the goddess Meenakshi is celebrated
annually on this date by faithful followers in Madurai, India. Sacred hymns are sung
and offerings of incense and white flower petals are made at all temples dedicated
to Shiva.



May 11
On this date in the year 1659, the Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
banned all celebrations of Christmas in the New World after declaring the event to
be a Pagan festival of superstition and "a great dishonour of God."  In England,
Christmas festivities had been banned by the Puritans seven years earlier. It
wasn't until the year 1660 when Charles II was restored to the throne that the law
banning the celebration of Christmas was repealed.

Matsu Festival (Taiwan) also Tin Hau Festival -  literally "Mother-Ancestor"), Lin
Muoniang Matsu saved her brother from drowning at the age of 28 and ascended
into heaven. After her death she became the Taoist Goddess of the Sea and patron
saint of fisher people.  



May 12
Cat Parade
On this date, the annual Cat Parade is celebrated in Belgium.  The cat is an animal
sacred to the ancient Egyptians and often used in Magic.

In order to prove that cats were not magical, a Tenth Century Flemish count tossed
some of the felines from a high tower. His deed is recalled annually on this date in
Ypres by the Cat Parade where people march through the streets dressed in cat
costumes.

Aranya Sashti, a god of the woodlands, is honored in India on this day with an
annual festival. He is identified with the Pagan honored deities Pan and Cernunnos.


May 13
On this date in the year 1917, the Virgin Mary appeared and spoke with three
peasant children in Fatima, Portugal. This event occurred on the 13th day of the
month for six months in a row.


May 14 - Mother’s Day
The ancients celebrated a day in spring in honour of the Mother of the Gods –
Rhea in Greece and Cybele in Rome.  Rhea was very powerful in the days before
classical (ie, patriarchal) mythology came around.  She was one of the 14 original
Titans (Nefillim in the Old Testament), paired with Cronus (Saturn and Saturday),
which was the planet of Peace.
Christians celebrated this day on the fourth Sunday during Lent in honour of Mary,
the mother Jesus.  During the 1600’s, in England this day was expanded to include
all mothers.  The servants, who generally lived with their employers, were
permitted the day off work to return home and visit their mothers.
In the United States, Mother's Day started when an Appalachian woman named
Anna Jarvis, organized a day to raise awareness of poor health conditions in her
community, a cause she believed would be best advocated by mothers. She called
it "Mother's Work Day."

Fifteen years later, Julia Ward Howe, a Boston poet, pacifist, suffragist, and author
of the lyrics to the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," organized a day encouraging
mothers to rally for peace, since she believed they bore the loss of human life
more harshly than anyone else.

In 1905 when Anna Jarvis died, her daughter, also named Anna, began a campaign
to memorialize the life work of her mother. Legend has it that young Anna
remembered a Sunday school lesson that her mother gave in which she said, "I
hope and pray that someone, sometime, will found a memorial mother's day. There
are many days for men, but none for mothers."

Anna began to lobby prominent businessmen and to support her campaign to
create a special day to honor mothers, which Woodrow Wilson signed into effect in
1914 to recognize Mother's Day as a national holiday.

At first, people observed Mother's Day by attending church, writing letters to their
mothers, and eventually, by sending cards, presents, and flowers. Happy Mothers
Day To All The ADI Mothers.

May 15 - The Argei festival
On this date in ancient times, the Romans performed an annual purification rite.
During the year, Rome's vestal virgins (the six priestesses of the Goddess Vesta)
tended a sacred fire in their temple, and were involved in numerous religious
festivals. The Argei festival was May 15. The Argei (more properly known as the
argeorum sacracia) consisted of twenty-seven shrines scattered around the city
which was believed to have been consecrated by the early Roman King, Numa. The
shrines numbered twenty-seven because it was three times nine and, therefore, a
magic number. On this day, the shrines became way-stations for a solemn
procession led by the vestal virgins, the Pontifex Maximum (chief priest) and a
handful of magistrates. At each of the Argei, the parade would pause to collect a
straw puppet made to resemble an old man. Once all twenty-seven puppets had
been collected, they were carried to the Pons Sublicius, Rome's oldest bridge, and
thrown into the Tiber River by the virgins. It is unknown why the Romans created
such an elaborate ceremony around the tossing of straw dolls into a river .

May 16      Jewish – Lag B’Omer – 33 day of the Counting of the
Omer
The Old Testament requires a counting of the days from Passover to Shavuot – for
a total of 50 days. According to the Talmud, 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva died in
during this time of a plaque because "they did not show proper respect to one
another".  For that reason, it is customary to observe a period of semi-mourning
during this time, when weddings are not held, hair is not cut, and music is not
heard. Some do not shave during this entire period.
This day is the anniversary of the death of the Talmudic Sage and disciple of Rabbi
Akiva, Rabbi Shimon bar (son of) Yochai, author of the Zohar. The Zohar which
means "The Shining Light," deals with the mystical teachings of the Torah and is
the basis for Kabbalah, whose secrets will bring about the coming of Moshiach.
The Zohar says that on the day Rabbi Shimon died, a great light of endless joy filled
the day because of the secret wisdom he revealed to his students. That secret
wisdom was recorded in the Zohar. The sun did not set until Rabbi Shimon had
revealed all that he was allowed to. As soon as he was done, the sun set and he
died. The fire which surrounded the house, preventing any but Rabbi Shimon's
closest students from approaching, serves as a basis for the custom of lighting
bonfires on Lag B'Omer.


May 17
In the Philippines, a Neo-Pagan fertility ritual is celebrated every year on this date
by married couples who wish to have children. The rites (dedicated to Santa Clara)
continue until the nineteenth of May.  The objective of the dance is to win the
intercession of the Catholic saints.


May 18 - The Feast of Twins
On this day, festivals honoring twins are held annually in the African republic of
Nigeria. It is widely believed among the Yoruba people that all twins are born with
abundant magical and supernatural powers.  Therefore, at this time of the year,
mothers of twins hold special suppers with the children as guests of honour. If one
of the twins should die, an effigy called an ere ibeji is created to represent the
deceased child at the supper...and to keep the spirit of the living twin from
yearning to follow its soul mate into death.


May 19
On this day in the year 1780, a strange and unexplained darkness draped most of
New England, turning daytime into night. Many folks believed that a Salem Witch's
curse was responsible for the day of darkness, since no other explanation for the
phenomenon has ever been found.  A sense of doom swept over New England
around noon on May 19, 1780, as much of the region was plunged into darkness.
Chickens settled down to roost, frogs began their nighttime croaking and many
people believed that the Day of Judgment was upon them. There was no eclipse to
account for the darkness and no explanation has ever been proven for the
phenomena, although it is possible that the cause may have been a high-altitude
pall of wind-borne soot from huge forest fires which were burning in the West.


May 20 - Plynteria
On this date, a sacred festival called the Plynteria was celebrated annually in
ancient Greece. The festival was held in honor of Athena, the goddess of wisdom
and battle, and the patroness of the city of Athens (which was named after her),
and included the ritual sea cleansing of her statue, followed by prayers in the
Parthenon and feasting.

May 21 - Sheep Festival (Cameroon)
This festival celebrates the descent of the sheep herds from the mountains and is
celebrated two months after Ramadan to remember the willingness of Abraham to
sacrifice a sheep from his flock.


May 22
In our solar calendar, this date (approximately), the Sun enters the astrological
sign of Gemini. Persons born under the sign of the Twins are said to be
communicative, curious, charming, and often nervous and fickle. Gemini is an air
sign and is ruled by the planet Mercury.


May 23 - Declaration of the Bab (Baha’i)
This is celebrated 22-23 May from 2 hours after sunset on the 22nd.  The Bab was
the Forerunner of Baha'u'llah. His mission was to prepare the world for the coming
of Baha'u'llah and he declared it in the evening of May 22 1844.  The Bab was later
imprisoned and executed for his beliefs and activities.



May 24 - Sacred Furrow Day (Cambodia)
In this harvest ritual, the farmland would be plowed by members of the royal family
in order to appease the ancient gods of the harvest and to ensure the fertility of
the land.

The birth of the Greek moon-goddess Artemis (who also presides over hunting and
wild beasts) has been celebrated each year on this day since ancient times. As a
lunar goddess, Artemis is equivalent to the Roman moon-goddess Diana and is
identified with Luna, Hecate, and Selene.


May 25 - Ascension Day (Christian)
The bodily Ascension of Jesus took place in the presence of his apostles 40 days
after the Resurrection. It is traditionally thought to have occurred on Mount Olivet
in Bethany.
It is one of the Ecumenical feasts ranking with the feasts of the Passion, of Easter
and of Pentecost among the most solemn in the calendar, has a vigil and, since the
fifteenth century, in accordance with the directions of Leo XIII.  Certain customs
were connected with the liturgy of this feast, such as the blessing of beans and
grapes after the Commemoration of the Dead in the Canon of the Mass, the
blessing of first fruits, afterwards done on Rogation Days, the blessing of a candle,
the wearing of mitres by deacon and subdeacon, the extinction of the paschal
candle, and triumphal processions with torches and banners outside the churches
to commemorate the entry of Christ into heaven. Rock records the English custom
of carrying at the head of the procession the banner bearing the device of the lion
and at the foot the banner of the dragon, to symbolize the triumph of Christ in His
ascension over the evil one. In the prayers, the day is to celebrate the completion
of the work of salvation, the pledge of our glorification with Christ, and His entry
into heaven with our human nature glorified.

May 26 - Sacred Well Day (Pagan)
On this day, in Ireland and Great Britain wiccans decorate sacred wells with
wreaths and to toss offerings of flowers into the water in honor of the deities and
spirits of the well. This custom dates back to the ancient Romans, who celebrated
an annual well festival called the Fortinalia, which took place on this day.


May 27 - Secular Centennial Games
On this day, the Secular Centennial Games were observed in ancient Rome. The
goddesses Diana, Prosperina, and the Three Fates were honored in nighttime
healing ceremonies.


May 28 - New moon of Gemini – lunar calendar


May 29 - Ascension of Baha'u'llah (Baha'i)
It commemorates the anniversary of the death of the founder of the Bahá'í faith,
Baha‘u‘llah, and his teachings.  Baha‘u‘llah died peacefully on the morning of 29th
May 1892. He now lies buried in Bahji, in a shrine surrounded by a stunning
garden, which is designed to symbolise the order of the world in the future.
Pilgrims to the Bahá'í shrines in Israel visit the tomb to pray there.

May 30 – Death Anniversary of Joan of Arc
St. Joan of Arc is the patroness of soldiers and of France. A peasant girl who
believing that she was acting under divine guidance, she led the French army in a
momentous victory at Orleans.
On this date in the year 1431, French heroine and military leader Joan of Arc was
burned alive at the stake as punishment for committing the crimes of Witchcraft,
heresy, and "being given to the forbidden arts of magic and divination." She had
worn male clothing, made claims about seeing and hearing angels and voices, and
prophesied some events, all sure signs, the court concluded, that she was in
league with the Devil. She was threatened with torture and then sentenced to
death by burning. Joan was very afraid - and said so - but she remained faithful to
what God had asked of her. She refused to change her story and calmly went to
her death holding a crucifix.
Several years later, when the war was finally over, and many of the predictions
Joan made had come true, Charles VII re-opened her case, held another trial and
acquitted Joan of Arc of heresy or any other crime. Her family was honored by
being allowed to place the 'Fleur d'Lys' on the family crest.

May 31 – Triple Blessing of Buddha
On this day, the annual Triple Blessing of the God Buddha is observed by
Theravada Buddhists. To celebrate the god's birth, enlightenment, and passage
into nirvana, shrines and houses are decorated with flowers and special prayer
flags. Offerings of flowers, incense, and rice are also made. The Triple Blessing
often lasts for three consecutive days.


Feast of the Visitation – Roman Catholic
When Mary was told by the Angel Gabriel that her aged cousin Elizabeth would
soon have a son, Mary rose up and went with haste into the mountainous region to
visit Elizabeth.
The moment she entered the house and greeted her cousin, Elizabeth was filled
with the Holy Ghost; and her unborn child, the future St. John the Baptist, was
cleansed of original sin and sanctified.  Mary remained with Elizabeth about three
months, serving her cousin. This is an example of how to love our neighbour,
despite any inconveniences to ourselves.