On the Queenship of Mary

On the Queenship of Mary

"She is queen precisely by loving us"

CASTEL GANDOLFO, AUG. 22, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held at Castel Gandolfo. The Holy Father focused his meditation on today's liturgical memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

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Dear brothers and sisters,

Today marks the liturgical memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, invoked under the title: "Queen." It is a feast of recent institution, even though it is ancient in its origin and devotion: It was established by the Venerable Pius XII in 1954, at the conclusion of the Marian Year; its date was set at May 31 (cf. Lett. Enc. Ad caeli Reginam, 11 Octobris 1954: AAS 46 [1954], 625-640). On this occasion, the Pope stated that Mary is Queen above every other creature on account of the elevation of her soul and the excellence of the gifts she received. She never ceases to bestow all the treasures of her love and care on humanity (cf. Speech in honor of Queen Mary, 1 November 1954). Now, following the post-conciliar reform of the liturgical calendar, it has been placed eight days after the Solemnity of the Assumption, in order to emphasize the close bond between Mary's queenship and her glorification in body and soul next to her Son. In the Second Vatican Council's Constitution on the Church, we read: "Mary was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen of the universe, that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son" (Lumen Gentium, 59).

This is the root of today's feast: Mary is Queen because of her unique association to her Son, both during her earthly journey as well as in heavenly glory. The great saint of Syria, Ephrem of Syria, said regarding the queenship of Mary that it derives from her maternity: She is Mother of the Lord, of the King of kings (cf. Is 9:1-6), and she points to Jesus as our life, salvation and our hope. The Servant of God Paul VI recalled in his apostolic exhortation Marialis Cultus: "In the Virgin Mary everything is relative to Christ and dependent upon Him. It was with a view to Christ that God the Father from all eternity chose her to be the all-holy Mother and adorned her with gifts of the Spirit granted to no one else" (n. 25).

But now we may ask ourselves: What does it mean that Mary is Queen? Is it merely a title along with others, the crown, an ornament like others? What does it mean? What is this queenship? As already noted, it is a consequence of her being united with her Son, of her being in heaven, i.e. in communion with God. She participates in God's responsibilities over the world and in God's love for the world. There is the commonly held idea that a king or queen should be person with power and riches. But this is not the kind of royalty proper to Jesus and Mary. Let us think of the Lord: The Lordship and Kingship of Christ is interwoven with humility, service and love: it is, above all else, to serve, to assist, to love. Let us recall that Jesus was proclaimed king on the Cross, with this inscription written by Pilate: "King of the Jews" (cf. Mark 15:26). In that moment on the Cross it is revealed that He is king. And how is He king? By suffering with us, for us, by loving us to the end; it is in this way that He governs and creates truth, love and justice. Or let us also think of another moment: at the Last Supper, He bends down to wash the feet of His disciples. Therefore, the kingship of Jesus has nothing to do with that which belongs to the powerful of the earth. He is a king who serves His servants; He showed this throughout His life. And the same is true for Mary. She is queen in God's service to humanity. She is the queen of love, who lives out her gift of self to God in order to enter into His plan of salvation for man. To the angel she responds: Behold the handmaid of the Lord (cf. Luke 1:38), and in the Magnificat she sings: God has looked upon the lowliness of His handmaid (cf. Luke 1:48). She helps us. She is queen precisely by loving us, by helping us in every one of our needs; she is our sister, a humble handmaid.

Thus we have arrived at the point: How does Mary exercise this queenship of service and love? By watching over us, her children: the children who turn to her in prayer, to thank her and to ask her maternal protection and her heavenly help, perhaps after having lost their way, or weighed down by suffering and anguish on account of the sad and troubled events of life. In times of serenity or in the darkness of life we turn to Mary, entrusting ourselves to her continual intercession, so that from her Son we may obtain every grace and mercy necessary for our pilgrimage along the paths of the world. To Him who rules the world and holds the destinies of the universe in His hands we turn with confidence, through the Virgin Mary. For centuries she has been invoked as the Queen of heaven; eight times, after the prayer of the holy Rosary, she is implored in the Litany of Loreto as Queen of the Angels, Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, Virgins, of all Saints and of Families. The rhythm of this ancient invocation, and daily prayers such as the Salve Regina, help us to understand that the Holy Virgin, as our Mother next to her Son Jesus in the glory of Heaven, is always with us, in the daily unfolding of our lives.

The title of Queen is therefore a title of trust, of joy and of love. And we know that what she holds in her hands for the fate of the world is good; she loves us, and she helps us in our difficulties.

Dear friends, devotion to Our Lady is an important element in our spiritual lives. In our prayer, let us not neglect to turn trustfully to her. Mary will not neglect to intercede for us next to her Son. In looking to her, let us imitate her faith, her complete availability to God's plan of love, her generous welcoming of Jesus. Let us learn to live by Mary. Mary is the Queen of heaven who is close to God, but she is also the Mother who is close to each one of us, who loves us and who listens to our voice. Thank you for your attention.

[Translation by Diane Montagna]

[The Holy Father then addressed the people in various languages. In English, he said:]

I welcome all the English-speaking pilgrims present at today’s audience, especially the groups from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Japan and the United States of America. I also greet the young altar servers from Malta and their families. Today the Church celebrates the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. May the prayers of Our Lady guide us along our pilgrimage of faith, that we may share in her Son’s victory and reign with Him in His eternal Kingdom. Upon all of you I invoke the Lord’s abundant blessings!

After a long absence, I’m back to look at FR religion comments. Workload and elderly parents take nearly all of my time.

**Our Lord honors His Mother in accord with the dictates of His Heart and obedience to His Father’s Will.**

Another curious tradition whereby you folks apply emphasis on His “Heart”. Jesus said nothing about his ‘heart’, because.....he would not let anyone think that there was anything in him ‘calling the shots’ other than the Father. He spoke a great deal about the Father dwelling in him, teaching, guiding, empowering him through word and deed to do the “will of the Father which hath sent me”. He also spoke of the heart of man, showing it to be a separate entity from the Spirit of God, largely disobedient, but able to be led by the Spirit.

The Word never refers to Mary as Queen mother. That’s man made tradition. John 2:4 and 19:26 are the only passages where Jesus Christ speaks to her directly; and he addresses her as ‘woman’, knowing in the future people would be doing all they could to elevate her status beyond what the Word had made plain.

The Christ never speaks of assigning a throne to her either. But, she mostly likely will be one of many sitting with him on HIS throne. Rev. 3:21

Mary was given a great honor in giving birth to the Christ-child, but she didn’t make more of God, didn’t make the soul of the Son, or raise him from the dead, or cause him to ascend up to heaven bodily. She did only that which her physical body could do, and was designed to do. Believe whatever ‘traditions’ you want, but I prefer to stick with plain scriptural facts.

Lord bless.

Jesus was an observant Jew. He did not transgress even the smallest part of the Law. As such He honored His Father AND His Mother as commanded in Deuteronomy. Mary has a special place of honor among Christ's followers as the Mother He honors in perfectly following His Father's commands. We are the Body of Christ and She is the Mother of the Body.

Never?

Revelation 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

The Christ never speaks of assigning a throne to her either. But, she mostly likely will be one of many sitting with him on HIS throne.

And yet Scripture records that the Davidic King did homage to his mother and set up a throne for her at his right hand (1 Kings 2:19). Our Lord is the Word and the Word was made flesh. What is spoken in His written Word is of Himself.

This has always been a great curiosity to me. Has anyone ever done anything that could please God? Has Christ? By your definition, Mary is nothing special because She simply obeyed God. Can anyone aspire to a higher calling or a higher honor? Although Christ IS more... did He DO more? There is not one of us who does anything but by God's Will and Grace. Her selection as Christ's vessel elevates Her just as the gold selected by the refiners was elevated when fashioned into the Ark of the Covenant. We don't make more of Mary than God Himself did... we simply marvel at His Plan.

We do not claim Mary as more than a woman... just first among Christians in doing the Will of God.

**We are the Body of Christ and She is the Mother of the Body.**

Don’t you find it odd that nowhere in the epistles (letters to the church) do you find that kind of expression? And, as I said before, in the scriptures the Christ didn’t address her as ‘mother’, but as ‘woman’.

**Never? Revelation 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.**

Why did you stop before verse 6???
“And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.”

The ‘woman’ is Israel. “For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth...” Is 54:5,6 (see also Hosea chap 2).

**And yet Scripture records that the Davidic King did homage to his mother and set up a throne for her at his right hand (1 Kings 2:19). Our Lord is the Word and the Word was made flesh. What is spoken in His written Word is of Himself.**

Solomon showed respect to his mother Bath-sheba, when she came to pass along Adonijah’s request, and had a seat brought in for her sit beside his throne. She did not sit on a throne herself. Furthermore, her request in that case was denied, and Adonijah died.

**Her selection as Christ’s vessel elevates Her just as the gold selected by the refiners was elevated when fashioned into the Ark of the Covenant.**

God told Moses he would dwell between the cheribims on TOP of the Ark of the Covenant? I fail to see the Ark as a type of Mary. I see the Ark as a type of Jesus Christ rather easily. Mary was greatly blessed in her role, I just don’t take the matter any further than that. All power is in God. Only he is worthy of worshipful praise.

Lord bless.

**We don’t make more of Mary than God Himself did...**

Nor do I and those like minded.
Luke 11:27,28. And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, “Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it”.

Also Luke 8:21. And he answered and said unto them, “My mother and my brethern are these which hear the word of God, and do it”.

It seems that the Lord made it very clear that the mother of his fleshly body was not to be given special attention, for he knew that such things can lead to idolatry (not unlike the vain madness called ‘Amercan Idol’).

Don't you find it odd to be part of the Body of Christ and not acknowledge your own mother as such? Seriously, this isn't the greatest logical leap in history.

The ‘woman’ is Israel.

Yes. The woman of Revelation is Israel... and Mary. Just as "my Son" in Hosea 11:1 refers to Israel in the particular and Christ in the fulfillment. Scripture is deeper than a 3rd grade reading level. The Old Testament prefigures the mysteries of the New Testament and the New Testament reveals what was hidden in the Old Testament. The virgin which "will be with child" of Isaiah 7:14 found a particular fulfillment in its day but its fullest fulfillment in Mary as noted by the Evangelist (Matt 1:23).

You seem to forget that after Christ's birth, He and His Family were sent to Egypt by an angel in Joseph's dream for their protection from Herod.

Solomon showed respect to his mother Bath-sheba, when she came to pass along Adonijah’s request, and had a seat brought in for her sit beside his throne.

Read my Scripture quote of this incident again... Solomon didn't fetch her a chair, he brought her a throne. I don't know about you but I don't recall another incident in the Bible (nor in world history) where a visitor is sat upon a throne for simple comfort. She was placed upon the throne because it was her right and station. Heck, when the Sons of Thunder asked to sit on Christ's right and left, Jesus said these positions were not His to give as they already belonged to those for whom they were prepared.

I fail to see the Ark as a type of Mary. I see the Ark as a type of Jesus Christ rather easily.

This is silly. What did the Ark do? It contained the manna from Heaven, Aaron's rod and the tables of the Covenant. In short, the bread from Heaven (Christ; John 6:51), authority over Israel (Christ as King), and the Law (Christ as Word). Your analogy fails utterly because Christ is not the Ark... He is its contents.

Going one step further, God's Spirit overshadowed the Ark in his Shekinah glory with just the same Biblical wording and structure as what was described to Mary when the angel said, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee."

In short, there is only one person who has born Christ within Her and had the Holy Spirit overshadow Her... and Her name is Mary.

God bless you.

**Don’t you find it odd to be part of the Body of Christ and not acknowledge your own mother as such? Seriously, this isn’t the greatest logical leap in history.**

Face to face, the Lord addressed her as ‘woman’, and placed her no higher than anyone that hears the word of God and keeps it. So, we are to elevate her higher than He does?

She was used (quite willingly) to help bring forth the earthly man; that wept, hungered and thirsted, required sleep, didn’t want to die but did. His body is now a glorified body. Mary didn’t perform that change to his body.

**The woman of Revelation is Israel... and Mary.**

Would that be because your catechisim teaches that?

**Just as “my Son” in Hosea 11:1 refers to Israel in the particular and Christ in the fulfillment.**

Well, maybe you should write Hosea 11:1 in this fashion: “....called my son AND his mother out of Egypt.”

**She was placed upon the throne because it was her right and station.**

While the KJV calls it a ‘seat’, I agree that the hebrew word in both cases in that passage is ‘throne’. But, she apparently didn’t have a throne beside Solomon, but for that moment (which, as I said before, her request was denied). Bathsheba was Solomon’s mother, and David’s wife, yet never referred to as ‘queen’ in the Word.

**Your analogy fails utterly because Christ is not the Ark... He is its contents.**

He is all of it, and high priest as well. The pure gold candlestick-the Light that lighteth all men. The table of shewbread-the bread of life. The Ark-perishable wood (remember...he did die for a short time) covered with gold (non-perishable), in which there is bread from heaven, life from the dead (Aaron’s rod was dead), and the words of God (John 14:10). The Ark symbolizes the Holy Ghost filled man Christ Jesus; “IN HIM was life, and the life was the light of men”. The Spirit also dwelt upon him at his baptism.

**In short, there is only one person who has born Christ within Her and had the Holy Spirit overshadow Her... and Her name is Mary.**

Yet, all that are born of the Spirit are told by Paul that they have Christ in them, the hope of glory.

Really closing this post in haste. This discussion could be continued, but as a truck driver, my ‘steed awaits’.

til next time, Lord bless

I've wondered about such also.

The English badger isn't quite as feisty as the North American one, so I've been told. 'Have no idea what a Sinai badger may have been like.

Yet we know what the badgers represented, both alive, and as hides --- the latter being humility. The tabernacle was a big 'ol gaudy thing otherwise. Cloaked in the humility of slain "sin".

Getting rid of the things might have made it safer for the people on a simple physical level, too, once the things were gone from the land where the people traveled and bivouacked.

Could you imagine your nine-year old daughter trudging to the outskirts of the camp, in the dark, carrying a small trowel-like spatula to to dig a small hole, then move dirt back to cover her own bodily wastes --- and somewhere along the line encountering a badger? It could tear her up. Much like like sin can wound us, body & soul.

It would hardly matter if one accompanied her, for the little nocturnal beasties are low to the ground, quiet, almost completely blend in with the surroundings (particularly in the dark) and quick. Whatever damage would be done, would happen in a flash, before intervention could prevent.

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