Kings, queens, knights, and castles – these create a wonder inside us for a different time and place. A time of chivalry, courtly love, honor, duty, and loyalty to name the good elements of that time. We romanticize some of the ideals of this time while still knowing that it was a time in history that was not without its sins and failings. For this blog, I want to focus on one good aspect of this time period namely the role of a queen to help us to relate better to the title given to Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth.
Queens were often able to exercise influence through their roles within the royal family as wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, and aunts, as well as wield significant power as regents, intercessors, patrons, and models of piety and chastity. (Queenship in Medieval Europe)
A queen was powerful because of who she was in relation to others as well as her designated role. Why does Mary hold such a special place in the heart of the Church? The primary reason is because God holds her in the greatest esteem. He designated her from the very beginning to hold an integral part in salvation history. Let us take time to reflect on the amazing and essential relationships that Mary has with the Three Persons of the Trinity. These relational truths are ones that I have known but did not really “sink” into my heart until just recently.
Mary is the perfect Daughter of the Heavenly Father.
Mary knew God with incredible love and devotion. The Heavenly Father gave her the gift of being persevered from all sin through her Immaculate Conception. This gift ensured she was a worthy vessel for bearing the Savior to the world; but it was also out of His love and honor for her as His daughter. It was her love and devotion to God that enabled her to choose every day and every moment to live for her Heavenly Father with the perfect devotion of a beloved Daughter.
Let us pray to Mary to teach you how to be a beloved child of God. I assure you that, without hesitation, she will bring you closer to our Father in Heaven. Mary always points us to God and never to herself.
Mary is the perfect Mother of the Eternal Son.
From the moment the Archangel Gabriel asked her to be the Mother of the Savior, she said yes daily in her words, heart, and actions. With perfect love, she provided for the human needs of her Eternal Son. She taught the Savior of the world how to eat, walk, play, and even to pray. Though Jesus was fully human and fully Divine, He learned from His parents as they provided perfectly for the spiritual needs of their Son.
Look to Mary for guidance so that your daily choices will provide the best care for your children both physically and spiritually. Mary also modeled for us that to love our children best we must keep first and foremost our relationship with God and secondarily our bond with our spouse to provide the environment most beneficial for our family’s growth and holiness.
Mary is the perfect Spouse of the Holy Spirit.
Many of Mary’s special moments in Scripture showed the presence and relationship with the Holy Spirit as in from the Annunciation, The Visitation, and Pentecost. The Holy Spirit brought about the conception of the Son of God in the womb of Mary (Mt 1:18, 20; Lk 1:34). Throughout her life, Mary was filled with and deeply united with the Holy Spirit. The love and gift of the Holy Spirit is so intimate that it is referred to as a spousal relationship. Her intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit did not in any way take away from spousal relationship with her earthly husband, St Joseph. Rather these relationships perfected all the work she did both in her daily tasks and in her fulfilling of her unique vocation.
Beg for Mary’s intercession in your relationship with the Holy Spirit as well as a deepening relationship with your spouse. Mary can create within you a better sense of self-gift and sacrificial love that is needed to be a holier spouse.
The more we reflect on her inspiring devotion, the easier it is to see why she is honored with the title Queen of Heaven and Earth. It is a title befitting the perfect love and care that she has for us and for her careful living out of the designated role given to her by God Himself. Allow these reflections to sink deeper into your heart. On the upcoming feast day of the Queenship of Mary on August 22, spend time praying on how important Mary is and how much her perfect love is her crowning glory. Sit with the picture above and contemplate the honor God, in Three Persons, gives to Mary upon crowning her Queen of Heaven and Earth.
One last relationship that cannot be overlooked is that of Mary as Our Mother. Upon the cross, Jesus presented St John to Mary saying “Woman, behold, your son” and then presented Mary to St John “Behold, your mother.” This gifting of Mary as Mother was not just for St. John but for the whole Church and individually for you. Mary loves you as a perfect Mother does, wanting only the best – to build up your relationship with God and to help you receive eternal life!
Let us pray together a beautiful prayer asking for Mary Our Mother and Queen to intercede for us before our Triune God – The Memorare!
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
References:
Queenship in Medieval Time quote retrieved from https://reviews.history.ac.uk/review/1509
Memorare retrieved from https://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/memorare.html
Author: Laura Stephens
