Francis' Petrine Ministry Consecrated to Our Lady of Fatima (CATHOLIC CAUCUS)

Earlier this week, in his opening address to the 181st plenary assembly of the Portuguese episcopal conference, its president, Cardinal José Policarpo, said that Pope Francis asked him twice to consecrate his ministry to Our Lady of Fatima.

"Pope Francis asked me twice to consecrate his new ministry to Our Lady of Fatima," the cardinal said.

"It is a request," he added, "that I can fulfill in the silence of prayer," but that would be better if "all the episcopal conference associated itself to the realization of this request. Mary will guide us in all our works and also in the way of fulfilling this desire of Pope Francis."

"We begin our works inspired in the two events that mark this present moment of the life of the Church: the Resurrection of Christ and the election of the new Bishop of Rome," continued the president of the episcopal conference.

Cardinal Policarpo reflected on the fact that in the short span of this pontificate, strong lines are emerging that "challenge our pastoral ministry." And he reminded that the Pope’s power cannot be understood in the light of the powers of this world. "The crowds need to be loved, attracted by the love of the good shepherd. In that love, charged with joy and tenderness, he spoke to us immediately of the importance of tenderness in our pastoral relations."

The cardinal specified that Francis "has given a privileged place to the poor, the marginalized, to all those who suffer." He was very clear in affirming that the model of the Church which attracts him is a poor Church at the service of the poor.

"He had the daring to translate that vision of the Church in the external symbols," added the patriarch of Lisbon.

The cardinal said that the Pope’s "predilection for young people" was seen immediately, as well as his "clear affirmation of the importance of the conciliar spirit, playing down tensions and currents actualizing the hope of John XXIII in a springtime of the Church, which must flower from the seeds of the Council."

This message of hope, he continued, will certainly be translated into inevitable reforms in the life of the Church.

"Everyone speaks of the reform of the Curia," the cardinal noted, applying it to the local situation: "To correct something that we also see in our dioceses, which is to give priority to pastoral vitality, not allowing the administrative bureaucracy to take the first place."

"The Church will always be the place of conversion and forgiveness. And the Pope has already reminded us of two key aspects: God forgives by loving; only one who rejects love is not open to forgiveness. God forgives always; we are the ones who can grow tired of asking him for forgiveness," he added.

"Let us be open to the exigencies of surprise. In our diocesan structures there is also much to change, in the light of that pastoral priority of the Church," invited the patriarch of Lisbon.

Revelation 17:5 and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pangs, in the agony of giving birth. Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron.

Mary is the Queen Mother of the eternal House of David, of which Jesus is King.

WHY DO CATHOLICS CALL MARY QUEEN OF HEAVEN AND EARTH?
In the Old Testament the Queen was often not the wife of the King, but the mother
In the Old Covenant a King could have many wives but would only have one mother. Unlike the English commonwealth, in the ancient Middle East, the King's mom was often the Queen. It was a very specific role.

The idea of the Queen Mother was ubiquitous [all over the place]... you don't find ancient monarchies in the Near East or the Middle East that don't have Queen Mothers... And [the Queen Mother] was one of the best-known institutions in ancient Israel's monarchy, or after the Civil War, ancient Judah's monarchy..." (Dr. Scott Han, "Mary, Holy Mother", 16)
The Hebrew word is "gebiran" meaning "great lady" which Mary most certainly was. There are references in the Old Testament to the Queen Mother. 1 Kings 15:13,
Then King Jehoiakim, along with his advisers, nobles, and officials, and the queen mother, surrendered to the Babylonians." (2 Kings 24:12)
She had a throne in a place of honour in the royal court, seated next to the King
She was reverenced and honoured uniquely by the King, she interceded to the King on behalf of his subjects, and the King honours her requests, and she had a role to play in worship, not as a priest, but definitely a role. (ibid Scott Hahn 16)
Why do I believe Mary is the Woman crowned with 12 stars, the New Ark of the Covenant in Rev 11:18-12:17?
• The Ark of the Old Covenant carried the Word of God made stone while the Ark of the New Covenant carried the Word of God mad flesh when Mary was pregnant with Jesus.
• The old Ark of the Covenant disappears in Jer 3:16. The new Ark of the Covenant resurfaces in Revelation 11:19 as the woman with a crown of 12 stars around her head.
• The Ark of the Covenant has been restored to the temple, which is now heaven (See also Heb 9:1-12)
• A woman with a crown is there - the new Ark
• The woman in Revelation gave birth to the King of the Israelites (Jesus) - who will rule the nations and is on God's throne
• The devil is very interested in destroying her but she is safe
• Her children are all faithful Christians who "follow the lamb" (Rev 12:17)
We think God was quite clear about who the crowned woman was in the passage. It is not because of any power that she gets on her own, but by the power she is given by Jesus her Son. Just like the Israelites carrying the Ark of the Covenant into battle. Both the old Ark and the new Ark gain their merits because of the "Word of God" made stone in the Old Covenant and made flesh in the New Covenant. A chart comparing the Old Covenant Ark and the New Covenant Ark is here.
What Biblical precedent is there for Mary the Queen Mother, interceding?
So Bathsheba went to King Solomon, to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. The king rose to meet her, and bowed down to her; then he sat on his throne, and had a throne brought for the king’s mother, and she sat on his right. Then she said, ‘I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me.’ And the king said to her, ‘Make your request, my mother; for I will not refuse you.’ (1 Kgs 2:19-20)
We see this echoed in the New Testament, when Mary asks Jesus to make the water into wine, which he does. Even though he acted like he wouldn't.
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana ....When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine."And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come."His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." (2 Jn 1-5)
Jesus then changed the water into wine, at his mother's request.
Some say that the Queen Mother in the Book of Kings was not a good person, because of her actions. That is true. But that's typical of the Old Covenant. Virtually every character in the Bible had a defect. Adam is a sinner, yet he was precursor to Jesus, David committed murder and adultery, Noah got drunk and naked, Moses committed murder, Peter denied Jesus, and so on. We think it would be poor Biblical scholarship to discount the role of Queen Mother because she didn't uphold the dignity of her office in this passage of Scripture.
The Kingdom of David - fulfilled in Christ
The kingdom of David included a Queen Mother and this Kingdom would be fulfilled in Christ.

You have said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
I have sworn to David my servant: 'I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.'" (Ps. 89:3-4)

Psalm 2:9 says "with an iron rod you shall shepherd them. In the New Testament, the passage that introduces Mary as the Queen with 12 stars for a crown (Rev 12:1) describes her as "The woman" who brings forth a male child who will rule the nations with a rod of iron." (Rev 12:5)I believe Jesus chose Mary to be the Queen Mother in his Kingdom
All the faithful will be given crowns (1 Pt 5:4, Rev 2:10, 2 TIm 2:11-12, 2 Tim 4:7-8) How much more would Mary, his mother, receive the crown as Queen?

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.