We celebrate the Queenship of Mary on August 22, just eight days after we celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven. Two beautiful feasts of our Blessed Mother.
Mary is assumed into heaven, body and soul, and there she is crowned Queen.
But if Jesus Christ is King, why do Catholics also call His Mother Queen? Does giving Mary this title somehow take honor away from her Son?
Not at all. In fact, Mary only and always brings us to Jesus. Her queenship only makes sense because Jesus is King.
Here are five things to know about this beautiful feast.
1. In the Davidic kingdom, the king's mother was queen
We tend to think of a queen as the wife of a king. But in the kingdom of ancient Israel, the queen mother held a special position of honor.
We see this clearly when Solomon becomes king. His mother Bathsheba approaches him, and Scripture tells us:
"The king rose to meet her, and bowed down to her; then he sat on his throne, and had a seat brought for the king's mother; and she sat on his right."
—1 Kings 2:19
Jesus is the fulfillment of the Davidic kingship. If He is the eternal King, it makes perfect sense that His Mother occupies a unique place in His kingdom.
2. Revelation gives us an extraordinary image of a Queen
In Revelation 12, St. John describes:
“And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars: And being with child, she cried travailing in birth, and was in pain to be delivered. And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads, and ten horns: and on his head seven diadems: And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to be delivered; that, when she should be delivered, he might devour her son. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with an iron rod: and her son was taken up to God, and to his throne.”—Revelation 12:1-5
The woman has several layers of meaning, including Israel and the Church, but Catholic tradition has also recognized Mary in this image...the Mother who gives birth to the One who will "rule all the nations."
And she is wearing a crown.
3. Mary's Queenship depends entirely upon Christ
Mary is Queen because Jesus is King.
Everything Mary possesses comes from God. Her Immaculate Conception, her divine motherhood, her Assumption, and her Queenship are all gifts of His grace.
Pope Pius XII, who established the Feast of the Queenship of Mary in 1954, explained that Mary's royal dignity is rooted above all in the fact that she is the Mother of God.
Honoring the Mother doesn't diminish her Son. It points us toward Him.
4. A queen mother intercedes
There's another interesting detail in the story of Bathsheba. She doesn't simply sit beside Solomon. She brings a petition to the king on behalf of another.
That gives us a profound Old Testament image for Mary's intercession.
We see something similar at Cana. Mary notices that the wedding party has run out of wine and brings the need to Jesus. Then she turns to the servants and gives what may be the best summary of Marian devotion ever spoken:
"Do whatever he tells you."
—John 2:5
Those words tell us exactly where Mary directs our attention.
To Jesus. Always.
5. The Queen of Heaven is still our Mother
The woman we honor as Queen of Heaven is the same Mother Jesus gave to us from the Cross. He gave her to us.
Her crown doesn't make her distant from us. It reminds us of where she is, and of the powerful intercessor we have before the throne of her Son.
Mary's glory in heaven is a picture or foreshadowing for all Christians of the similar heavenly glory meant for those who share in her Son's passion, death, and resurrection. She received first, and in the most perfect way, that which is destined for all of us.
So days after celebrating Mary's Assumption, the Church invites us to look toward heaven once again. Mary has arrived where we hope to go!
And from there, our Queen continues to do what she has always done: lead us to Jesus.
The Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin Mary Chaplet is a wonderful way to honor Mary. This chaplet features a silver filigree crowned Our Father bead and heavenly blue Hail Mary beads. Complete with an Italian-made Crucifix and centerpiece. Discover yours today at The Catholic Company!
Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, pray for us!
