August 22 2022 - Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 One of my favorite memories from seminary is that every night, gathered in a relatively dark chapel, the seminarians would pray Night Prayer, and to conclude Night Prayer, we would chant one of the medieval Marian Hymns in Latin: the Salve Regina, Regina coeli, and Ave Regina caelorum each of them singing the praises of the Blessed Virgin as Queen. Hail Holy Queen, Hail Queen of Heaven.

The middle ages saw countless depictions of the Blessed Virgin in art as Queen, seated on a throne, often wearing an ornate jeweled crown, holding a royal scepter. And yet, depictions of the Queenship of Mary are even found in the ancient icons, with the Virgin seated together with Christ the Pantocrator, the Sovereign King.  

And yet, today’s feast of the Queenship of Mary was only instituted for the universal Church in 1955 by Pope Pius XII—the original date of today’s feast being set as May 31, the last day of the month traditionally dedicated to Mary. 

The reformed calendar transferred the feast to today, August 22 because today is the octave day of the Assumption. We find this linking of Mary’s Assumption and her Queenship in the final chapter of the Vatican II constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, which states “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 the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conquerer of sin and death.”

We honor our Lady today simply because God honored her, exalting her as queen, but today is also a celebration of the role that our Queen continues to play in God’s plan. It is a celebration of her heart.

Pope Pius IX said of Mary's queenship: "Turning her maternal Heart toward us and dealing with the affair of our salvation, she is concerned with the whole human race. Constituted by the Lord Queen of Heaven and earth, and exalted above all choirs of Angels and the ranks of Saints in Heaven, standing at the right hand of Her only-begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, she petitions most powerfully with Her maternal prayers, and she obtains what she seeks...Therefore, let all approach with greater confidence now than before, to the throne of mercy and grace of our Queen and Mother to beg help in difficultly, light in darkness and solace in trouble and sorrow...

. . Whoever, therefore, honours the lady ruler of the Angels and of men - and let no one think themselves exempt from the payment of that tribute of a grateful and loving soul - let them call upon her as most truly Queen and as the Queen who brings the blessings of peace, that She may show us all, after this exile, Jesus, who will be our enduring peace and joy."

So may we fittingly honor the Queen of Angels and of the Church today and all days, and come to know of and benefit from the love of her maternal and immaculate heart, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That Pope Francis and all members of the Church, like the Virgin Mary, magnify the goodness of God through word and deed.

That the Queenship of Mary may awaken government leaders to the fulfillment of their highest priorities in the plan of God.

That all Christians may find in Mary the example and strength to carry out our individual vocation, for the sanctification of all families, and the protection of all young people from the evils of error and sin.

For those who suffer any sort of trial, illness, addiction or trial: that the help of Our Lady, queen of heaven and earth, may fill them with the grace needed to carry their crosses with faith and hope 

For the deceased members of our family and friends, for all of the poor souls in purgatory…