Queenship of Mary

Tomorrow is the Feast of the Queenship of Mary. An old joke says that it took seven days, exactly a week, for the humble maid of Nazareth to learn the intricacies of protocol and decorum in the heavenly court, as well as for the angels to make her the most splendid gown ever seen in heaven and earth.

Mary is Queen in her sharing the Kingship of Christ her Son. I cannot help but be reminded of that lovely scene in C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, where having attained final victory, all four children sat with Great Aslan, and were crowned together with him. This includes not only pure Lucy, or brave Peter, or caring Susan but even Edmund, who by giving in to the deception of the wicked White Witch, unwittingly brought the death of Aslan, who nevertheless rose again to defeat the Witch's evil curse and bring back the glory of spring.

The crown that shines on Mary's head is the crown of Christ's triumph. Because she believed, persevered and followed her Son to the end, Mary gained the promised reward of life everlasting.

Now, Mary sits with Christ, in the company of all the saints and angels, pleading on our behalf. But although she is Queen, raised above all creation, she is still Mother to all of us. In fact, as Saint Therese observed, "more a Mother than a Queen."

If we persevere with Christ until the end and turn from our wicked ways, then we too shall reign with him forever as our Mother and Queen already does. And in this painful and difficult struggle, there is reason to be brave and confident in hope, for our Mother is already there-waiting and interceding for us. <bgsound src="http://www.romaaeterna.jp/liber1/lu0279.mid" loop="infinite">