mary's titles

Mary, Our Queen

by John O'Connell

© 1996 Inter Mirifica

Christ is King. He is the Divine Ruler of the world, of the universe, of all that is seen and unseen. The Blessed Virgin Mary because of her close association with her Divine Son participates in a subordinate and limited way in His royal dignity. Therefore, the Church honors Mary as Queen.

Christ is King by Divine right as the Incarnate Word of God and by His conquest of sin on the Cross. Mary is Queen because she is Mother of the Lord, the Son of David. Mary is Queen because she cooperated in a profound way with the redemptive mission of Christ. Mary is Queen because God has created her "full of grace" and exulted her over every other creature.

Popular devotion in the Church acclaims our Blessed Mother's queenship. Her queenship is attested to by the fifteenth mystery of the Rosary and numerous Marian hymns and prayers, including the last series of invocations of the popular Litany of Loretto: Queen of Angels, Queen of Prophets, Queen of Patriarchs, Queen of Apostles, Queen of Martyrs, Queen of Confessors, Queen of Virgins, Queen of all Saints, Queen conceived without Original Sin, Queen assumed into Heaven, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, Queen of Peace.

A queen possesses royal perogatives and dignities, and exercises authority over her subjects. So too, Our Lady. But does not this assertion of Mary's queenship sound authoritarian and undemocratic to our modern ears, does not this emphasis on her royalty serve to make Mary distant and unapproachable, or at least to deform the image of the humble maid of Nazareth?

Surely, Mary's regal title does not obstruct or impede our close attachment to her. For the Holy Virgin is not only our Queen, but she is also our Mother who has the most tender compassion for her children. Mary Immaculate, the handmaid of the Lord, is a queen who served with profound humility. The Queenship of Our Lady reflects the kingly nature of the priestly people of God. We are a royal people, redeemed by the Precious Blood of our King and Savior, who are called to serve in this life so that we might enjoy an eternal crown of glory in the life to come.

Pius XII in his Encyclical Ad Coeli Reginam has presented the most definitive treatment by a pope on the queenship of the Mother of God. The Holy Pontiff writes that Mary's queenship has definite Biblical foundations and is widely affirmed by the Fathers of the Church. Pius XII in Ad Coeli Reginam had this to say concerning her queenship:

The Blessed Virgin Mary has not only been given the highest degree of excellence and perfection after Christ, but also she shares in the power which her Son and our Redeemer exercises over the minds and wills of men. For if the Word of God, through human nature assumed by Him, works miracles and gives grace, if He uses the Sacraments and uses His saints as instruments for the salvation of souls, why should He not use His Blessed Mother's office and activity to bring us the fruits of the Redemption?

The Salve Regina, a medieval anthem, is one of the most popular prayers to Our Lady in the Western Church:

Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, hail

our life, our sweetness, and our hope.

To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.

To thee do we send up our sighs,

mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us.

And after this our exile, show unto the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

O clement, o loving, o sweet Virgin Mary.