Queenship of Mary - August 22nd

 

Today is the feast of the Queenship of Mary. To my right, here in this temple, dedicated to Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament is a statue of Mary with a crown on Her head because She is the Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Imagine for a moment Mary entering heaven. Scripture tells us, “God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.” “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars." Mary is the new ark of the covenant. Mary is the woman clothed with the sun with moon under Her feet and as Queen, on Her Head is a crown of twelve stars.

When entering the gates of heaven, Her body became suddenly glorified, as She received a transformed and resurrected body. Her clothes became dazzling and with an immense glow, Her veil, mantle, and dress are arrayed in gold, sparkling like the sun.

Though She knew the Trinity better than any human being, and perhaps, at times, had a tiny glimpse of heaven in one of Her ecstasies, She was immediately enamored and overcome by the beauty, the glory, the power and the majesty of God in heaven. Her eyes welled up in tears as She gazed upon the multitude of angels and saints, and, to Her shock and amazement, they all bow down in humble reverence to Her, the Queen.

There, next to Our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of heaven, is Her faithful spouse St. Joseph, whose glory shines for all to see. He appears in bodily form. Just as St. Francis de Sales suspected, his body did not undergo corruption and was assumed body and soul into paradise.

Jesus takes Mary’s hand and walks Her to the throne of God the Father. Upon arrival, She kneels before Him and bows. He takes Her left hand and lifts Her up. There, before Her, are three large golden thrones. On the left is the throne of God the Father, next to His is the throne of Jesus and to His left is the throne of Mary. The three take their seats and the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, hovers above the three thrones. There is total silence in heaven, as all know the Father is about to speak.

Jesus and God the Father stand. Between the two, a royal crown studded with gems suddenly appears and is placed on the head of the Virgin. At the moment the crown is set, a burst of light comes forth from above and twelve stars appear and glisten like that of a giant halo.

The twelve stars above Her head apply to both the twelve patriarchs of the tribes of Israel (original people of God), and the twelve apostles (renewed people of God). The twelve stars also represent Her Queenly dignity and Her rule over angels and saints.

She is clothed with the sun, meaning She is surrounded by God’s power and protection and shines with grace as the Mother of God. The moon under Her feet represents Her Virginity, Immaculate Conception, and Her power over created things.

The Father spoke and said, “Behold, O creatures of heaven, this is the handmaid of the Lord. The Queen of heaven and earth. She is my daughter, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Her and do whatever She says. In Her hand I place the scepter, in which I have bestowed my entire ocean of Mercy, from now unto eternity. Those who love, honor and ask for Her intercession will find a loving and caring Mother. She is the image and model of the Church founded by my Son. She is not only my daughter. She is the Mother of the Redeemer and the Spouse of the Holy Spirit. What I say, I decree, unto eternity.”

The host of angels and saints sing the most beautiful and elegant hymns praising and giving thanks to God and the Virgin Mary. Exceedingly high notes are mixed with tones that correspond in perfect harmony. To those on earth, if the singing could be heard, it would cause ecstasies of rapture. “Praise to the Virgin! Praise to the Queen! Praise to the Blessed Trinity for whom She was created and has exalted above heaven and earth!”

When the angel Gabriel requested that Mary become the Mother of Jesus, it was at that moment She gave Her fiat, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me, according to thy word.”, She became the Queen of heaven and earth. If Jesus is the King of heaven and earth and of the whole universe, then Mary, as His Mother is the Queen of the Universe.

Saint Alphonsus Liguori said, “As the glorious Virgin Mary has been raised to the dignity of Mother of the King of Kings, it is not without reason that the Church honors Her, and wishes Her to be honored by all, with the glorious title of Queen.” Saint Athanasius said, “If the Son is a King, the Mother who begot Him is a Queen and Sovereign.”

St. Bernadine of Sienna said, “as many creatures as there are who serve God, so many they are who serve Mary: for as angels and men, and all things that are in heaven and on earth, are subject to the empire of God, so are they also under the dominion of Mary.”

Mary is called: Queen of Angels, Queen of Patriarchs, Queen of Prophets, Queen of Martyrs, Queen of Apostles, Queen of Virgins, Queen of All Saints, Queen conceived without original sin, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, Queen Assumed into heaven, Queen of Families, Queen of Peace, Queen of the Clergy, Queen of Heaven and Earth, Queen of Mercy, Queen of the Universe, and Queen of All Hearts.

“The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.” “All glorious is the king’s daughter as she enters, her raiment threaded with gold; In embroidered apparel she is led to the king. The maids of her train are presented to the king. They are led in with glad and joyous acclaim; they enter the palace of the king.” (Psalm 45:14-16)

St. Augustine said, "This venerable day has dawned, the day that surpasses all the festivals of the saints, this most exalted and most solemn day on which the Blessed Virgin was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory. On this day the queenly Virgin was exalted to the very throne of God the Father, and elevated to such a height that the angelic spirits are in admiration.”

What does a queen do, but intercede for her subjects. She has authority over the subjects of Her Son’s kingdom, which is God’s kingdom on earth, as it is in heaven.

If a subject finds himself or herself in trouble, and if the King refuses clemency, he has recourse to the Queen. This is the reason why Mary has the title Mother of Mercy and Queen of Mercy. When asking the King, if our prayer is not answered, go to the Queen. Bow down before Her and when kneeling look at Her beautiful face and know She loves you.

Our Lord Himself desires that we may grow in love of His Mother and that He may be glorified through Her intercessory prayers. He desires to honor Her, by showing us, that He refuses nothing through Her intercession. One learns to first approach the Queen before approaching the King.

After Mass, before leaving the temple, come to Your Mother and kneel before Her and ask the Queen of Heaven with a simple humble prayer for whatever your needs and intentions are. And trust, She will ask the King and He cannot refuse Her requests, because She is His Mother.

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
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, 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 us, O Holy Mother of God!