† Saints
Virgin Mary, Queen
"The Immaculate Virgin ... assumed body and soul into heavenly glory
was exalted by the Lord as Queen of the Universe, so that
are more fully asemejase His Son, the Lord of lords
and conqueror of sin and death. "
(Second Vatican Council, Const. Dogm. Lumen Gentium, n.59).
The Christian people, moved a certain supernatural instinct, always recognized the royal dignity of the Mother of the "King of kings and Lord of lords." Father and Doctors, Popes and theologians echoed this recognition and it is sublime expression in the splendors of art and eloquent catechesis of the liturgy.
As Mother of God, Mary He saw himself adorned with all the graces, prescas and noble titles. It was formed Queen and Lady of all creation, men and even of angels. It's as powerful as Queen Mother affectionate, associated as it is in the redemptive work and consequent mediation and distribution of graces.
Church wants us to hear the voice of Mary grateful to God proclaiming the unique privileges that broke. The Gospel proclaims the Kingdom of Christ, of which also flows the universal reign of Mary.
This feast was instituted by Pope Pius XII, and is now celebrated on the octave of the Assumption, to show clearly the connection between the royalty of Mary and her assumption into heaven. Medieval piety was started in the West to salute with the title of Queen of the Blessed Virgin Mother of God, invoking her with the words: Hail, Queen caelorum; Queen Caeli, Laetare. Almighty God, you have given us as Mother and Queen Mother as your only Son, grant that, protected by his intercession, attain the glory of your children in the kingdom of heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Salve
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope Hail. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve, to thee our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, returns to us thine eyes of mercy, and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of
Jesus Christ. Amen.
Anthem Queen and Mother, Virgin pure,
that you step sun and sky,
to you alone not enough
the sad legacy of Adam.
How in you, Queen of all,
If you are full of grace,
As part might fit
of original sin?
You are free from all stain:
And who could imagine
who came to miss the grace
where is grace?
If the children of their parents
Take the jurisdiction in which they are,
How could be captive
who gave birth to freedom? Amen.
PRAYER
Almighty God, you have given us as Mother and Queen Mother as your only Son, grant that, protected by his intercession, attain the glory of your children in the kingdom of heaven.
Most worthy Queen of the world, perpetual Virgin Mary, intercede for our peace and health, O Lord begot Christ, Savior of all.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
August 22
Mary, Queen of the Universe
Catechesis S.S. John Paul II
General Audience of Wednesday,
July 23, 1997
1. The popular devotion to Mary as Queen invoked. The Council, after recalling the Assumption of the Virgin "in body and soul into heavenly glory," said it was "high (...) by the Lord as Queen over all things, to be more fully conformed to her Son, Lord of lords (cf. Rv 19, 16) and conqueror of sin and death "(Lumen Gentium, 59).
Indeed, from the V century, almost in the same period when the Council of Ephesus proclaimed "Mother of God", we begin to attribute to Mary the title of Queen. The Christian people, with this further recognition of his high dignity, wants to put it above all creatures, enhancing its role and importance in the life of every person and of the whole world.
But in a fragment of a homily, attributed to Origen, see this commentary on the words spoken by Elizabeth at the Visitation: "It is I who should have gone to you, because you are blessed above all women you, mother my Lord, you are my Lady "(Fragmenta: PG 13, 1902 D). This text is passed spontaneously of "the mother of my Lord" to name "my lady", anticipating what later declare St. John Damascene, which attributed to Mary the title "Sovereign": "When I became a mother Creator, truly became the sovereign of all creatures "(De fide orthodoxa, 4, 14: PG 94 1157).
2. My venerable Predecessor Pius XII in his encyclical Ad Coeli Reginam, referred to the text of the Constitution Lumen gentium, indicated as the foundation of the Queenship of Mary, along with her motherhood, her cooperation in the work of redemption. The encyclical liturgical text: "Holy Mary, Queen of Heaven and Sovereign of the world, suffered by the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (MS 46 [1954] 634). It also establishes an analogy between Mary and Christ, which helps us to understand the meaning of the royalty of the Virgin. Christ is King not only because he is the Son of God, but also because it is Redeemer. Queen Mary is not only because she is Mother of God, but also because, associated as the New Eve to Adam, cooperated in the work of redemption of mankind (MS 46 [1954] 635).
In the Gospel of Mark we read that the Ascension Day the Lord Jesus "was taken up into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God" (Mk 16, 19). In biblical language, "sit at the right hand of God" means sharing his sovereign power. Sitting "at the right hand of the Father", he establishes his kingdom, the kingdom of God. Assumed into heaven, Mary is associated with the power of her Son and is dedicated to spreading the Kingdom, participating in the dissemination of divine grace in the world.
Noting the analogy between Christ's Ascension and the Assumption of Mary, we can conclude that, subject to Christ, Mary is the queen who holds and exercises sovereignty over the universe which was granted by the Son himself.
3. The title does not replace Queen certainly the Mother: his kingdom is a corollary of its particular mission maternal and simply expresses the power that was conferred to fulfill that mission.
Citing the bull Ineffabilis Deus, Pius IX, Pope Pius XII highlights this dimension royal mother of the Virgin: "Taking maternal affection towards us and inquiring about our salvation it extends all mankind your request. Established by the Lord as Queen of heaven and earth, raised above all the choirs of angels and all the heavenly hierarchy of saints, sitting at the right hand of his only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, obtained with great certainty he asks with his maternal entreaties, he who seeks finds, and can not miss "(MS 46 [1954] 636-637).
4. Thus, Christians look with confidence to Mary Queen, and this not only does not diminish, but, on the contrary, it exalts its filial abandonment that a mother in the order of grace.
Moreover, the application of Mary Queen by men can be fully effective precisely because of the glorious state after the Assumption. This highlights the great St. Germanus of Constantinople, who thinks that the state ensures the intimate relationship between Mary and her Son, and enables their intercession for us. Addressing Mary, added: Christ wanted "to have, as it were, the closeness of your lips and your heart thus fulfills all the wishes you express when you suffer for your children, and he does, with his power divine, all that you ask "(Hom 1: PG 98, 348).
5. We conclude that not only favors the Assumption full communion with Christ Mary, but with each one of us is with us, because his glorious state allows you to follow us on our earthly journey daily. We also read in St. Germain: "You dwell spiritually with us and your great anxiety for us manifest your life fellowship with us" (Hom 1: PG 98, 344).
So instead of creating distance between us and it, the glorious state of Mary raises a continuing closeness and caring. She knows everything that happens in our lives, and with maternal love sustains us in life's trials.
Elevated to heavenly glory, Mary is totally dedicated to the work of salvation for every man communicating happiness was granted. It is a Queen who gives everything he has to share, especially the life and love of Christ.
