Mary, Queen of Heaven: The Glory of the Assumption
August is a month filled with reminders of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We began the month with the memory of St. Alphonsus Liguori, a great lover of Our Lady, and on August 15th we celebrated the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Just one week later, on August 22nd, the Church celebrates the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. These two celebrations are closely connected: because Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven, she now reigns with her Son as Queen of Heaven and Earth.
The Assumption is the source of our celebration of Mary's queenship. At the end of her earthly life, Mary was taken body and soul into the glory of heaven. She did not simply receive a heavenly reward for her faithfulness; she was given a share in the glory of her Son in a unique way. Mary is the first disciple to experience in her own body the destiny that awaits all who belong to Christ: the resurrection of the body and eternal life.
The Church's celebration of the Queenship of Mary therefore points us back to Christ. Mary is Queen because Jesus is King. Her greatness comes entirely from her relationship with Him. She is the Mother of the King, the woman who gave her complete "yes" to God at the Annunciation, remained faithful beneath the Cross, and was united with her Son throughout His earthly life. Now, in heaven, she continues to direct us toward Him.
This is beautifully expressed in the words of the Memorare: "Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided." We turn to Mary not instead of Christ, but with confidence that she will always lead us closer to her Son.
There is also a beautiful connection between these August celebrations and our own hope. The Assumption reminds us that heaven is not an escape from the created world. God created us as body and soul, and He desires to glorify both. Mary's assumption gives us a glimpse of what God intends for those who remain faithful to Him. Her queenship reminds us where that journey ultimately leads: to the Kingdom of her Son.
As we come to the end of August, let us place ourselves under Mary's maternal care. Let us ask her to teach us the same faith, humility, and obedience that marked her earthly life. May she help us to say "yes" to God each day, to remain faithful when life is difficult, and to keep our eyes fixed on the glory that awaits us.
Mary, Queen of Heaven, pray for us.
Mary, assumed body and soul into heaven, pray for us.
Lead us always closer to your Son, Jesus Christ.
In Christ,
Fr. Joe Connelly