Saint of the day!

Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Saint of the Day for August 22

The Feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated on August 22, honors Mary as the Queen of Heaven and Earth. In our time, we celebrate the Queenship of Mary eight days after the Solemnity of the Assumption. This feast emphasizes Mary’s exalted role in salvation history and her continued intercession for the Church and humanity.

The title “Queen” is rooted in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, the Queen Mother held a position of honor and influence in the royal court, and Mary is recognized as the Mother of the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, Mary’s role is highlighted through her fiat (her yes) to God’s plan, her role in the Incarnation, and her presence throughout Jesus’ life and ministry.

The dogma of the Queenship of Mary was formally established by Pope Pius XII in 1954, in the encyclical Ad Caeli Reginam. The Church honors Mary as Queen not only for her divine motherhood but also for her unique participation in the work of salvation, her virtues, and her close association with Christ’s redemptive mission.

Today we honour her not just as the Mother of God’s Son but, because he is now Christ the King, she, as the mother of a king, is a Queen. We remember this, each time we pray the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary.

Mary, as Queen, is also Jesus’ First Disciple, having given herself totally and unconditionally to God’s will for her. Let us ask her to help us to follow in her footsteps that we may live up to our own calling to be Priests, Prophets and Kings and Queens in Christ’s Mystical Body.

Mary’s queenship is characterized by her humility and service. She reigns not with earthly power but with a maternal care that guides and intercedes for the faithful. This feast encourages the faithful to look to Mary as a model of virtue and to seek her intercession in their daily lives.

Reflection

Though the liturgical and theological evolution of today’s memorial might seem complex, the heart of it is simple. We not only have a mother in Heaven, we also have a Queen Mother. As Mary is the Queen Mother of God, we must turn to her with childlike faith and simplicity. As a young child runs to a loving mother in time of need, never questioning her love, protection, and care, so we must run to her. She is our protector, our refuge, our hope, and our sweet delight. Her affection is perfect and her motherly love is unmatched.

As we honor the Queen of Heaven today, ponder the Church’s ever-deepening understanding of her role. As the Church has increased its comprehension of Mary’s exalted role through the centuries, so we must individually make this discovery throughout our lives. Turn to her, seek her prayers, rely upon her intercession, and honor her as your mother and your queen.