The scene of the Visitation shows Mary in motion. The Bible tells us that, after receiving the angel’s announcement, she does not remain focused only on herself or on what she is experiencing. Mary sets out to visit Elizabeth, to accompany her, serve her, and share hope with her. This simple gesture contains a profound spiritual teaching: authentic faith always moves us towards the other.
Assumptionist spirituality invites us precisely to this: not to remain static or indifferent in the face of the reality experienced by so many people. Being Assumptionist does not only mean having studied at an Assumption school, but learning to live with a sensitive, conscious, and committed outlook towards those who most need to be seen, heard, and accompanied.
But how do I live this Assumptionist spirituality in my daily life? This is a question that has been asked for generations by students of Assumption schools around the world; and I have always thought that, many times, it can remain abstract. “Let’s transform society!”… but what does that really mean? How is it translated into concrete actions within my daily life, with my family, at work, in the midst of the difficulties, tensions, and hardships that also affect our own reality?
Mary did not go to Elizabeth from a position of superiority or protagonism. She went in a spirit of service, and her actions were rooted in simple and human gestures: being close, accompanying, listening, and feeling the needs of the other. That is profoundly Assumptionist.
It is not necessarily about “great things” or extraordinary actions, but about the daily learning process of looking at the other with true dignity. In our daily lives, this means constantly asking ourselves who is being left out, who is not being heard, or who is carrying silent injustices. It means not remaining silent in the face of discriminatory, humiliating, or unjust comments; becoming involved in initiatives of solidarity not only from charity, but also from commitment to the human dignity of people; paying fairly those who work for us, recognizing the value of their effort and avoiding taking advantage of their need; using our voice, our work, or our abilities to open opportunities for others.
It means asking ourselves with deep honesty: how do I look at life and everyday situations? From the reality of those living in greater vulnerability, or from the comfort of those who have greater privileges? What positions do I take in my personal life and regarding what is happening in my country and in the world? Do I place myself on the side of those who have fewer opportunities, or do I end up supporting, consciously or unconsciously, the logics of power and indifference?
The Visitation reminds us that faith cannot remain still; authentic faith always finds a way to stand on the side of human dignity, and to become presence, closeness, and service in daily life.
María José De LucaFormer student of the Assumption School