+ Today we celebrate the memorial of the Queenship of Mary, one week after the Feast of her
Assumption into heaven. Mary has been considered “queen of heaven” since the
fourth century, in art and in poetry. She was portrayed in royal attire,
enthroned with her child Jesus who was himself given “the throne of David to
rule over the house of Jacob forever,” a kingdom of which there will be no end.
This feast was established by
Pope Pius XII in 1954 after it was initially promoted by Catholic Mariological
congresses in Lyon, France, Freiburg, Germany, and Einsiedeln, Switzerland and Pro Regalitate Mariae, an international
society to promote the Queenship of Mary, in Rome.
It is only fitting that after
Mary took her place near Jesus, her Son the King, that she should be crowned by
the heavenly Church as their queen and ours. With such a radiant regent
interceding for us, how could our confidence in her motherly prayers ever fail?
She is mother of God because of her willingness to empty herself of herself;
she is queen of heaven (and earth) because she faithfully kept that posture her
entire earthly life. May we imitate her poverty and her humility this day and
experience the great depth of her joy at being raised up by her Son, and his
Body, the Church, of which she is the fullness and exemplar of membership!
Holy
Mary, Mother of God, pray for us always, until we see you face to face in our
eternal home with you!
Amen.
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