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Question

Dear Father Angelo,

In the fifth glorious mystery of the rosary we meditate on the coronation of Mary, queen of Heaven and Earth.

Since when did the queenship of the Madonna begin to be recognised and preached?

Has it simply originated  from popular devotion or is it also part of the ordinary teachings of the Magisterium?

Kind regards.

Alexander

Priest’s response

Dear Alexander,

the title of Queen has been attributed to Mary by Christian tradition since at least the 4th century.

Little by little it enters the prayer of the Christian people and is expressed with the well-known prayers of the Salve Regina, the Regina coeli, the Ave Regina coelorum, in the 5th glorious mystery of the Rosary, in the Loreto litanies (Queen of the Angels, of the Patriarchs…) .

When Pius XII established the liturgical feast of Mary Queen in 1954 and published the encyclical Ad coeli Reginam (11.10.1954), he expressly said that «it is not a question of a new truth proposed to the Christian people ».

Pius XII states that «the foundation and reasons for the royal dignity of Mary, abundantly expressed in every age, are found in the ancient documents of the church and in the books of the sacred liturgy» (Prologue).

The Angel Gabriel told Mary that the Son who would be born to her would reign eternally in the house of Jacob (Lk 1:32).

Elizabeth bows before Mary calling her “Mother of my Lord” (Lk 1:43).

From these words it emerges that the Mother of the Lord has “a certain loftiness and preeminence” (Pius XII).

The theological reasons that support Mary’s queenship are essentially reduced to two.

1. Mary is Mother of God

Pius XII states that «the main argument on which Mary’s royal dignity is based, already evident in the texts of ancient tradition and in the sacred liturgy, is without any doubt her divine motherhood. In fact in the s. Scriptures, regarding the Son, who will be born from the Virgin, it is said: “He will be called the Son of the Most High and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father and he will reign in the house of Jacob eternally and his kingdom will have no end.” ” (Lk 1,32.33); and furthermore Mary is proclaimed “mother of the Lord” (Lk 1,43). It follows logically that she herself is Queen, having given life to a Son, who in the same instant of conception, even as a man, was King and Lord of all things, for the hypostatic union of human nature with the Word” (par III).

2. Mary is a partner of the Redeemer

Pius XII says: «However, the most blessed Virgin must be proclaimed Queen not only for her divine motherhood, but also for the singular part which, by the will of God, she had in the work of our eternal salvation» (par. III).

Mary, as the new Eve, was associated with the new Adam (Christ) in the redemption of the human race.

“If Christ worked miracles through the humanity he assumed, if he uses the sacraments and his saints as instruments for the salvation of souls, why cannot he use the office and work of his most holy Mother to distribute the fruits of redemption to us?” (par. III).

Furthermore, there are various biblical passages that make it clear how this title suits Mary in an excellent way.

If St. Paul vouched for us: “If we die with him, we will also live with him; if we persevere with him, we will also reign with him” (2 Tim 2:12), how can we doubt that this happened for Mary?

This truth also appears from the words of Jesus: “You who have followed me, in the new creation, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” ( Mt 19,28) and “You are those who have persevered with me in my trials; and I prepare for you a kingdom, as the Father has prepared for me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Lk 22,28-30) .

Then there is the testimony of the Apocalypse, where the resurrected Jesus says to the angel of the church of Laodicea: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door for me, I will come to him and dine with him, and he with me. I will make him who conquers sit next to me on my throne, just as I conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne” (Rev 3:20-21).

As you see, Alexander, the title of Queen has convincing biblical foundations.

What happened for her is a guarantee that it will happen for us too, because Christ is faithful to His promises.

The ancient devotion of the Christian people towards Mary the Queen shows that the Holy Spirit wanted to guide the Church in this direction.

Pius XII ratified this belief and officially decreed the title of Queen and established the Feast, which is liturgically celebrated on 22 August, in the octave of the Assumption of Mary into heaven.

The Assumption inaugurates for Mary the full and effective exercise of her royal function. Starting from that day, the humanity of the Holy Virgin is fully invaded by the glory of the risen Son.

Mary, who carried the King of kings in her heart and womb, now sits as Queen at his right hand (Ps 44:10).

All we have to do is entrust ourselves and our causes to the glorious Queen of Heaven and earth.

I send you my prayer and bless you.

Father Angelo