The Feast of the Queenship of Mary

By TOM DENNEHY

The Feast of the Queenship of Mary is celebrated on August 22nd, eight days after the Feast of the Assumption. It commemorates Mary’s role as Queen of Heaven and Earth, a title that stems from her divine motherhood and her Assumption into Heaven. This feast emphasizes Mary’s unique position as the Mother of God and her powerful intercession for humanity.

When we pray the litany of the rosary we celebrate her Queenship.

She is Queen of Angels, Queen of Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles and Confessors. She is Queen of Virgins, Queen of all Saints and Queen conceived without original sin. She is Queen assumed into Heaven, Queen of the most Holy Rosary, Queen of Families and Queen of Peace. These are titles for Mary, which signify her Queenship.

The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth, celebrating Mary’s elevation to a position of royal authority in Heaven, is celebrated when we pray the fifth decade of the Glorious mystery of the Holy Rosary.

Mary’s Queenship is probably best seen as a consequence of her Assumption. This link is recognized in article 59 of Vatican 11 Constitution of the Church Lumen Gentium. “The Immaculate Virgin... was taken up body and soul into Heavenly glory when her earthly life was over, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, that she might be more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of Lords and conqueror of sin and death.”

The Story of the Queenship of Mary.

Pope Pius X11 established the feast day in 1954. But the Blessed Virgin Mary’s queenship has roots in Scripture. At the Annunciation, God spoke, through the Angel Gabriel, and said that Mary’s son, Jesus, would receive the throne of David and rule forever. At the visitation, Elizabeth calls Mary “Mother of My Lord.”As in all the events of Mary’s life, she is closely associated with Jesus; her queenship is a share in the kingship of Jesus. In his 1954 encyclical to the Queen of Heaven, Pius X11 points out that Mary deserves the title because she is the new Eve and is so closely associated with the redemptive work of Jesus, because of her unique perfection, and because of her powers of intercession.

We have many artistic depictions of Mary seated next to Christ, often on a throne, with angels and saints surrounding them. The Trinity may also be present, signifying Mary’s unique relationship with God. The crown symbolizes Mary’s Queenship, and the Coronation signifies her role as a powerful intercessor and advocate for humanity.

In the Book of Revelation Chapter 12; 1-6, we get a great insight into the honour Christ has given His mother. A sign appears in the Heavens! A woman is crowned with twelve stars and adorned with the sun, with the moon at her feet, about to give birth to a male child, a son “who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron.”

By understanding the honour Christ gives His mother we better understand the honour we should give her. From her all graces flow. She is the one who brings us to know and to love her son Jesus and who wants to bring us all to

Heaven. She is the one who is fighting our spiritual battles for us. She is our protector from the Evil One and wants our help in the battle against evil. She promises us, “In the end My Immaculate Heart will Triumph.” She asks for our help and the greatest way we can help her is to pray the rosary every day for her intentions.

Prayer of The Hail, Holy QueenSalve Regina.

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, Hail our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears! Turn, then, O most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for, O Holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray. O God whose only begotten Son, by His life death and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation; grant we beseech Thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. Our Lady Queen of Peace pray for us.