Queenship of Mary-22nd August

Pope Pius XII set the date for the Queenship of Mary on the octave (8th day) after the Solemnity of the Assumption, that is, August 22nd each year. In his 1954 encyclical To the Queen of Heaven, Pius XII points out that Mary deserves the title because she is Mother of God, because she is closely associated as the New Eve with Jesus’ redemptive work, because of her preeminent perfection, and because of her intercessory power. “The purpose of the Feast is that all may recognize more clearly and venerate more devoutly the merciful and motherly sovereignty of her who bore God in her womb”

Mary’s queenship has roots in Scripture. At the Annunciation, Gabriel announced that Mary’s Son would receive the throne of David and rule forever. At the Visitation, Elizabeth calls Mary “mother of my Lord.” As in all the mysteries of Mary’s life, she is closely associated with Jesus: Her queenship is a share in Jesus’ kingship. We can also recall that in the Old Testament the mother of the king has great influence in court.

In the fourth century Saint Ephrem called Mary “Lady” and “Queen.” Later Church fathers and doctors continued to use the title. Hymns of the 11th to 13th centuries address Mary as queen: “Hail, Holy Queen,” “Hail, Queen of Heaven,” “Queen of Heaven.” It is not royal blood, but her motherly relationship, that makes Mary a queen. And since nothing is excluded from the realm of Christ the King, Mary is the Queen of that same realm, including both heaven and earth.

0822 Queenship of Mary 1p SMC 8.5 x 11 R1R 20240518

Queenship of Mary – 22^nd August

‘Mary’s queenship leads souls to her Son’s kingdom.”

“Mary reigns as Queen, crowned by her Son’s love.”

“Our Queen in heaven watches over us like a mother.”

“The Queen of Heaven gave us the Rosary to save souls.”

https://youtube.com/shorts/W-rf9qSTCC0

Prayer to Mary, Queen of Heaven

O Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth,
Mother of our Lord and King,
I place myself under your loving protection.
Guide me closer to your Son Jesus,
help me to follow Him faithfully,
and intercede for me in all my needs.

O gentle Queen and tender Mother,
lead me safely to the Kingdom of God,
where with you and all the saints
I may praise Christ forever.

Amen.

The Queenship of Mary is a Catholic feast and doctrine that honors the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Feast Day

August 22 (established by Pope Pius XII in 1954 in his encyclical Ad Caeli Reginam).
It is celebrated one week after the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary (August 15), highlighting her coronation in heaven after being assumed body and soul.

Meaning

The Church teaches that Mary, as the Mother of Jesus (the King of Kings), shares uniquely in His glory.
Her queenship is not political power but a spiritual authority and intercessory role, rooted in her perfect obedience and union with Christ.
In biblical tradition, the queen mother (gebirah) in Israel held a place of honor and intercession (e.g., Bathsheba with King Solomon in 1 Kings 2:19). Mary, as the new Eve and mother of the King, fulfills this role for the Kingdom of God.

Symbols of Mary’s Queenship

Crown of stars (Revelation 12:1 – “A woman clothed with the sun… and on her head a crown of twelve stars”).
Regal titles from the Litany of Loreto (Queen of Angels, Queen of Apostles, Queen of All Saints).
Art and devotion often show her enthroned next to Christ, wearing a crown.

Spiritual Importance

Her queenship assures the faithful of her maternal care: she reigns not with distance, but with love and mercy.
Devotion to Mary as Queen inspires trust in her intercession and encourages Christians to live under the reign of Christ.
The Rosary’s Fifth Glorious Mystery meditates on the Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Summary: The Queenship of Mary celebrates Mary’s exalted place in heaven as Queen, united with her Son, interceding for us, and inviting us to live faithfully under Christ’s reign.

Prayer in Honor of the Queenship of Mary

O Mary Immaculate Queen, look down upon this distressed and suffering world. You know our misery and our weakness. O thou who art our Mother, saving us in the hour of peril, have compassion on us in these days of great and heavy trial.

Jesus has confided to you the treasure of His grace, and through you He wills to grant us pardon and mercy. In these hours of anguish, therefore, your children come to you as their hope.

We recognize your Queenship and ardently desire your triumph. We need a Mother and a Mother’s Heart. You are for us the luminous dawn which dissipates our darkness and points out the way to life. In your clemency obtain for us the courage and the confidence of which we have such need.

Most Holy and Adorable Trinity, You Who did crown with glory in Heaven the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Savior, grant that all her children on earth may acknowledge her as their Sovereign Queen, that all hearts, homes, and nations may recognize her rights as Mother and as Queen.

Mary Immaculate Queen, triumph and reign!

Amen

COLLECT PRAYER

O God, who made the Mother of your Son to be our Mother and our Queen, graciously grant that, sustained by her intercession, we may attain in the heavenly Kingdom the glory promised to your children. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

Prayer to Mary, Queen of Heaven

O Queen of heaven, rejoice, Alleluia;
For He whom thou didst deserve to bear, Alleluia;
Is risen again as He said, Alleluia.
Pray for us to God, Alleluia.

V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia.

R. Because our Lord is truly risen, Alleluia.

Let us pray

O God, who by the Resurrection of Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ didst deign to give joy to the world: grant we beseech Thee, that through His Mother, the Virgin Mary, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

Salve Regina

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, 
our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To you do we cry,
poor banished children of Eve. 
To you do we send up our sighs, 
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears 
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
your eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this exile
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb,
Jesus.
O clement, O loving, 
O sweet Virgin Mary.