Summary: Queenship of Mary. Mary’s Queenship is probably best seen as a consequence of her Assumption. The feast occurs a week after the feast of the Assumption on 15th August.
Patrick Duffy explains some of its perspectives.
Link with Assumption
The link between Mary’s Assumption and the feast of her Queenship is recognised in article 59 of the Vatican II Constitution on 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 the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords (cf Rev 19:16) and conqueror of sin and death”.
Formerly on 31st May
The institution of this feast was requested at Marian Congresses in Lyons (1900), Fribourg (1902), Einsiedeln (1906); it was again requested after the institution of the feast of Christ the King in 1925. In the centenary year of the proclamation of the Immaculate Conception (1954), Pope Pius XII instituted the feast with his encyclical ‘Ad coeli reginam’. At that time it was celebrated on the last day of May. Since 1969 it takes place a week after the Assumption.
“You will reign with Christ forever”
The antiphon of the Magnificat at Evening Prayer links Mary’s queenship with her acceptance of he motherhood of Christ: “Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, because you believed in all the things which were told you by the Lord: you will reign for ever with Christ”.
Many beautiful hymns
There are many well-known and beautiful hymns saluting Mary as queen: Ave Regina caelorum, Salve Regina and Regina Caeli.
Fifth Glorious Mystery of the Rosary
We also celebrate the ‘Queenship of Our Lady’ in the Fifth Glorious Mystery of the Rosary. While she defends the Church, neither height nor depth, neither men nor evil spirits, neither great monarchs, nor craft of man, nor popular violence, can avail to harm us; for human life is short, but Mary reigns above, a Queen for ever.
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Memorable Wisdom for Today
While she defends the Church,
neither height nor depth, men nor evil spirits,
great monarchs, nor craft of man, nor popular violence, can avail to harm us;
for human life is short, but Mary reigns as a Queen for ever.
Mary is the Queen Mother of the Church.
~ C/f Romans 9: 38+f ~
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