Mother Mary, Queen of Heaven, pray for us
The Queenship of the B.V. Mary : Thursday 22nd August 2024
Is 9:1-6; Ps 112:1-8;
Lk 1:26-38 (Ps Wk IV)
The celebration of the Assumption of Our Lady on 15 August is a solemnity that includes professing the Creed. In the past, it was normal for the greater feasts to have an octave. However, the original celebration of the Queenship of Mary was on 31 May, which followed the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In 1969, Pope Paul VI moved the date to 22 August, eight days after the Assumption. In large part, this was done to create an octave, and at the same time, to show liturgically that the Queenship of Mary in heaven flows naturally from her Assumption to heaven.
The typology from the Old Testament of a queen mother who intercedes is from 1 Kings 2:19–20. If Solomon honoured his queen mother’s requests, and sat her on a throne next to his, so does Jesus, the King of Kings, with his mother as Queen of heaven. Imagine in the heavenly kingdom, Jesus honours His mother’s request, “Ask it, my mother, for I will not refuse you.” Hence, we ask Mary to intercede, she can pass our requests to Jesus.
The annunciation of the angel Gabriel to Mary, “You are highly favoured!” is a superlative regard of Mary from heaven. Preeminently, Jesus, her Son, would inherit the throne of His ancestor David, and His reign would have no end. It is through Jesus that Mary finds her honourable place.
Lord Jesus, we trust You will be favourable to our request as we honour Mary with fitting devotion.
homepage zähler Shalom hits from 1st December 2019