The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Hail Holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria!

Today is the Feast Day of the Queenship of the Blessed Mother Mary. Pope Pius XII established this feast in 1954, but Mary’s Queenship has roots in Scripture, such as in the Annunciation and the Visitation in the Gospel of Luke.

The feast is celebrated on the octave day of the Feast of the Assumption. In his encyclical "To the Queen of Heaven" Pope Pius XII pointed out that Mary deserves the title because she is Mother of God, because she is closely associated as the New Eve with the redemptive work of Jesus, because of her perfection and her intercessory power.

Mary was assumed or carried into Heaven by Jesus and the angels. Jesus ascended or went up to Heaven by His own power. Mary does not have that kind of power, so Jesus carried her. After she was assumed into Heaven, Jesus took His Mother to a throne next to His own. Jesus, God our Father and the Holy Spirit placed a beautiful crown of twelve stars on her head.

The Blessed Virgin Mary shares in the glory of her Risen Son, because shares in His work of saving souls. As His Mother, she carried Him in her womb, gave Him birth, raised Him through childhood and into adulthood and stayed with Him at the Foot of the Cross.

Mary is our gentle Mother and she is a powerful warrior against evil. Turn to Mary in all your needs. She will accompany you throughout your life. She will console you in your sorrows and she will protect you against evil.

Mary is Queen to all of us. She obtains all graces for us through her prayers. As our mother and as Jesus's Mother, she will always intercede for us to her Son, and lead us closer to Him. Let us bring all our needs and prayers to her.  O Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, pray for us and for all those for whom we pray.