August 22: OUR LADY, QUEEN OF HEAVEN.
Hail holy Queen, Mother of mercy!
“Hail our Life, our life, our sweetness and our hope!
So goes the beautiful prayer of Salve Regina, a Marian prayer of filial love, trust and devotion, very appropriate not only during Saturdays (the day of the week traditionally dedicated to Our Lady) but especially for today’s feast (in some dioceses) or memorial.
And it is just right to rejoice on this day as we celebrate the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary for aside from being crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth, let us not forget that she is our Mother as well!
“It is indeed just, that the Father, the Son; and the Holy Spirit
should crown the Blessed Virgin, Our Lady, as Queen and Mistress of all creation.
You have to make use of her power. With the daring of a child, join in this celebration in Heaven For myself since I have no precious stones or virtues to offer, I crown the Mother of God and my Mother with my failings, once they have been purified. She expects something from you too
(J. Escrivá, The Forge, 285).”
With the “daring of a child” confident that his mother will listen to him: “Adeamus ergo cum fiducia ad thronum gratiae, ut misericordiam consequamur…” Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace in time of need (Heb 4:16).
Our Lady as Queen is the throne of grace where we could easily find tender compassion and maternal love, since Our Lord Jesus Christ gave her to us “as our advocate of grace and the Queen of all creation (Roman Missal, Preface of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of all Creation).”
As we contemplate today the great celestial celebration when the Most Blessed Trinity greets Our Lady to take her to heaven for all eternity, let us also offer her something we have as “daring children”…our failings, our weaknesses, our faults, purified by the Sacrament of Confession, as stones engraved on her crown, confident that Our Lady will convert them into precious and shining jewels of humility and contrition out of love for God.
Pray for us Oh Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ!”
Happy Feastday of Our Lady, Queen of Heaven and Earth!
-Fr. Rolly Arjonillo, priest of Opus Dei. CATHOLICS STRIVING FOR HOLINESS. We are also in Facebook: www.facebook.com/CatholicsstrivingforHoliness Hope you like our page and invite your friends as well to do so in order to help more people.
