QUEEN OF HEAVEN, REJOICE, ALLELUIA! ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Monday, 22^nd August 2016,

Twenty First Week of Ordinary Time

Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

2 Thes 1: 1-5, 11-12;

Ps 95: 1-5;

Mt 23: 13-22.

QUEEN OF HEAVEN, REJOICE, ALLELUIA!

Pope Pius XII in his Papal Encyclical Ad Caeli Reginam, proposed the traditional doctrine on the Queenship of Mary and established this feast for the Universal Church. But 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, Mary 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 had great influence in court. "The Queen is always vigilant to intercede with the king whom she bore" said Pope Sixtus IV. In the fourth century St 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," The Dominican rosary and the Franciscan crown as well as numerous invocations in Mary's litany celebrate her Queenship. The feast is a logical follow up to the Assumption and is now celebrated on the octave day of that feast.

God lavishes his grace upon all who believe in him and shows his favour to the lowly, humble and those receptive to his word. Her question "how shall this be" is not prompted by doubt or scepticism but by amazement. She is the true hearer of the Word, willing to do his will, even if it seemed difficult or costly. God gives us grace and he expects us to respond with the same willingness, obedience and heart-felt trust as Mary did. When God commands, he also gives us his assistance, strength, and means to respond. All that we need is "our goodwill" to yield to his grace by giving our unqualified "yes" to his will and plan in our life. Let his will and his word take flesh in our personal lives.

Prayer: Mary, Creator's Handmaid and Mother, Queen of the Universe, intercede for us with Your Son. Amen.