Good morning good people,
May the Lord give you peace, health and happiness.
It is 22nd August 2024.
We celebrate the Memorial of the Queenship of Mary.
This feast commemorates the Blessed Virgin Mary’s special role in Christ’s redemption. Even though she is not the source of grace, she is the channel of graces and rightly called the Mediatrix.
So, we read in the entrance antiphon that “at your right stands the queen in robes of gold, finely arrayed.” (Ps.45:10).
Pope Benedict XVI teaches us remarkable catechesis on the title Queen for Mary. It was in fact established in 1954, at the end of the Marian Year, by Venerable Pius XII who fixed the date as 31 May (cf. Encyclical Letter Ad Caeli Reginam, 11 October 1954: AAS 46 [1954], 625-640). On this occasion the Pope said that Mary was Queen more than any other creature because of the sublime dignity of her soul and the excellence of the gifts she received.
Mary “was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory… and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son” (Lumen Gentium, n. 59).
Mary is Queen because she is uniquely conformed to her Son, both on the earthly journey and in heavenly glory.
Ephrem the Syrian, Syria’s great saint, said of Mary’s queenship that it derives from her motherhood: she is Mother of the Lord, of the King of kings (cf. Is 9:1-6) and she points Jesus out to us as our life, our salvation and our hope.
In his Apostolic Exhortation Marialis Cultus the Servant of God Paul VI recalled: “In the Virgin Mary everything is relative to Christ and dependent upon him. It was with a view to Christ that God the Father, from all eternity, chose her to be the all-holy Mother and adorned her with gifts of the Spirit granted to no one else” (n. 25).
What does “Mary Queen” mean? Is it solely a title, together with others, a crown, an ornament like others? What does it mean? What is this queenship? As mentioned above, it is a consequence of her being united to the Son, of her being in heaven, that is, in communion with God; she shares in God’s responsibility for the world and in God’s love for the world.
She is Queen precisely by loving us, by helping us in our every need; she is our sister, a humble handmaid.
The title “Queen” is thus a title of trust, joy and love.
We reflect on Isaiah 9:1-6 and Luke 1:26-38.
The first reading promises a saving child who will redeem God’s people from the slavery of sin through His self-sacrifice. Our peace comes through Jesus.
Most of the times, we fear that our sorrows and troubles will never end. When we approach the Lord through our Beloved Mother Mary Queen of Peace, we can surely and safely get through to the shores of peace, joy and happiness. Jesus is the light that dispels all the clouds of darkness and sin.
Whenever we are faced with the evil, the darkness, God promises the light through Mother Mary. There is always hope in the Lord through our mother. Even today, our Mother Mary is interceding for us all to her Beloved Son Jesus.
“Jesus will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.” (Is.9:6). The responsorial Psalm hails, “The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.” (Ps.113:8).
We continue to experience the promise of the Redeemer and the obedience of Mother Mary in the Gospel.
God invited Mary to be the channel of peace even though she was humble and poor.
However unlikely we can think of ourselves, still God can perform wonders when we trust God like Mary, who is the role model for all obedience, patience and humble service to the Lord.
Her Queenship comes through the unquestionable obedience to God’s Word.
May the Lord bless you to be the channel of peace in your humble service to the humanity.