Day: August 22, 2017

The Memorial of the Queenship of Mary – 22 August – A Marian feast day decreed by Pope Pius XII on 11 October 1954, in his encyclical Ad caeli reginam to recognise and celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of the world, of the universe, of the angels, of heaven,  Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, Virgins, all Saints,of Families, Queen conceived without original sin Queen assumed into Heaven, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, Queen of Mercy, Queen of Peace.   The movement to officially recognise the Queenship of Mary was initially promoted by several Catholic Mariological congresses in Lyon, France, Freiburg, Germany and Einsiedeln, Switzerland. Pro Regalitate Mariae, an international society to promote the Queenship of Mary, was founded in Rome, Italy by noted Marioligist and writer Father Gabriel Roschini.   Patronages – the diocese of Cabinda, Angola.

From early times Christians have believed and not without reason, that she of whom was born the Son of the Most High received privileges of grace above all other beings created by God.   He “will reign in the house of Jacob forever,” “the Prince of Peace,” the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”   And when Christians reflected upon the intimate connection that obtains between a mother and a son, they readily acknowledged the supreme royal dignity of the Mother of God.

In this feast, particularly cherished by the Popes of modern times, we celebrate Mary as the Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Pope Pius IX said of Mary’s Queenship:  “Turning her maternal Heart toward us and dealing with the affair of our salvation, she is concerned with the whole human race.   Constituted by the Lord, Queen of Heaven and earth and exalted above all choirs of Angels and the ranks of Saints in Heaven, standing at the right hand of Her only-begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, she petitions most powerfully with Her maternal prayers and she obtains what she seeks.”

And Pope Pius XII added the following:  “We commend that on the festival there be renewed the consecration of the human race to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary.   Upon this there is founded a great hope that there will rejoice in the triumph of religion and in Christian peace…

…Therefore, let all approach with greater confidence now than before, to the throne of mercy and grace of our Queen and Mother to beg help in difficultly, light in darkness and solace in trouble and sorrow…

. . Whoever, therefore, honours the lady ruler of the Angels and of men – and let no one think themselves exempt from the payment of that tribute of a grateful and loving soul – let them call upon her as most truly Queen and as the Queen who brings the blessings of peace, that She may show us all, after this exile, Jesus, who will be our enduring peace and joy.”

St Lomman, Abbot, (5th—early 6th century)

 “The Help of Mary, Queen and Mother”

O Mary, when our eyes close in our last sleep and open to behold thy Son, the Just Judge and the Angel opens the Book and the Enemy accuses us;  in that terrible hour, come to our aid.  Be with us.
When death came to Joseph, you and your Son were with him:  Thy Son to judge, thou to console.   O Happy Joseph!   When death comes for us, be near us.   O Mary, when we are held captive in the place of atonement;  plead for us and visit us, that we may find consolation in thy presence.  Stretch forth thy hand to help us;  deliver us from our bondage.  We are thy children: Thou art our Mother.   As little children we come to thee; we know no fear.
O Mary, He changed water into wine for thee, even as He said:   My hour has not yet come.  Now He will not refuse thee, when you plead for us thy children.   O Mary, come quickly to our aid.   Do not let us stray from the Fold.   The wolf is waiting to destroy us. There shall be neither night nor day to thy praises.
Adoration to the Father Who created thee!   Adoration to they Son, Who took flesh from thee!   Adoration to the Holy Spirit, Thy Divine Spouse!   Three in One, One in Three. Equal in all things.   To Him be glory for ever.   Forever. Forever. Amen.