Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Story of the Queenship of Mary

On August 22, we celebrate the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Pope Pius XII established this feast in 1954. But Mary’s queenship has roots in Scripture. At the Annunciation, Gabriel announced that Mary’s Son would receive the throne of David and rule forever. At the Visitation, Elizabeth calls Mary “mother of my Lord.” As in all the mysteries of Mary’s life, she is closely associated with Jesus: Her queenship is a share in Jesus’ kingship. We can also recall that in the Old Testament the mother of the king has great influence in court.

In the fourth century Saint Ephrem called Mary “Lady” and “Queen.” Later Church fathers and doctors continued to use the title. Hymns of the 11th to 13th centuries address Mary as queen: “Hail, Holy Queen,” “Hail, Queen of Heaven,” “Queen of Heaven.” The Dominican rosary and the Franciscan crown as well as numerous invocations in Mary’s litany celebrate her queenship.

The feast is a logical follow-up to the Assumption, and is now celebrated on the octave day of that feast. In his 1954 encyclical To the Queen of Heaven, Pius XII points out that Mary deserves the title because she is Mother of God, because she is closely associated as the New Eve with Jesus’ redemptive work, because of her preeminent perfection, and because of her intercessory power.

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, 
our life, our sweetness and our hope. 
To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; 
To you do we send up our sighs, 
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. 
Turn then, most gracious Advocate, 
your eyes of mercy toward us; 
and after this, our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. 
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

  1. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. 
    R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.

From: franciscanmedia.org, divinemercy.org and catholicculture.org