Today, August the 22nd, is the Feast of the Queenship of Mary. However, since this Feast day does not enjoy the rank of Solemnity as did the Feast of the Assumption which we celebrated last Sunday, we instead observe today the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time. It is fitting that this feast should be celebrated on the Octave of the Blessed Mother’s Assumption into Heaven, joining these two feast days as well as the interdependent theologies in our veneration of Mary.
Veneration of the Blessed Mother as Queen of Heaven goes back to the 4th century, found in the sensus fidelium, or popular belief, prayer, and activity of the laity before she was given the title Mother of God at the Council of Ephesus a century later, in the year 431 AD. Reflecting Old Testament tradition, the mother of a king becomes Queen Mother. She is regarded in Catholicism as Queen of Heaven since her Son is known as King of the Universe. The Church recognizes that God willed that Mary would play an exceptional role in the work of eternal salvation. This title was formally recognized by Pope Pius XII as recently as in his 1954 encyclical Ad Caeli Regnam.
In addition to recognizing Mary’s title as Queen of Heaven when we pray the fifth Glorious Mystery of the Rosary as The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, there are many hymns which we sing that speak to us of this event as we venerate her place in heaven in such pieces as Salve Regina… Regina Caeli… and the lesser-known Alma Redemptoris Mater. We also proclaim her queenship in the Litany of Loreto as we name her Queen of Angels, Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors and Virgins. These titles are wonderfully displayed in the stained-glass windows of the parish church of my childhood, Saint Sebastian’s in Akron, Ohio. I’ve never seen anything else that comes close to this array.
Her Coronation is also depicted in much fine art, including Peter Paul Rubens’ depiction in the Cathedral of Antwerp, Belgium, and Velazquez’s painting at the Prado in Madrid. I had the good fortune of viewing this particular masterpiece while traveling through Spain on pilgrimage several years ago.
The Blessed Virgin Mary has been granted the title Co-redemptrix because she gave free consent to give life to Christ the Redeemer, which meant sharing in His life, suffering and death which were redemptive for the world. To be clear, Jesus is the redeemer of humanity, not Mary. Yet her title as Co-redemptrix goes back to the 14th century, and is also found in the writings of the early Church Fathers, Saints Irenaeus and Justin who saw her role in redemption as the New Eve. A further title given her is Mediatrix of All Graces. Not a dogmatic teaching, it is believed that she mediates Divine Grace to humanity, which has its origin in the Holy Spirit. This title, known since the 5th century, refers to her intercessory role, taking our prayers to heaven and the Lord’s response to earth.
From the Regina Caeli: “O Queen of Heaven rejoice, for the Son whom you merited to bear, is Risen as He said. Pray for us to God."