The Queenship of Mary (St. Peter Canisius)

Our Lady of Walsingham

(Normally, today would be the feast of the Queenship of Mary on the traditional Roman calendar. However, since this is the week after Pentecost, the octave of Pentecost is observed instead.)

Taken from Queenship of Mary - Sermon of St. Peter Canisius

From the Second Nocturn of Matins:

Sermo sancti Petri Canisii Presbyteri

Lesson IV

If we follow St. John Damascene, St. Athanasius and others, are we not forced to call Mary "Queen," since her father David receives the highest praise in Scripture as a renowned king, and her Son as the King of kings and Lord of lords, reigning forever? She is Queen, moreover, when compared with the Saints who reign like kings in the heavenly kingdom, co-heirs with Christ, the great King, placed on the same throne with Him, as the Scripture says. And as Queen she is second to none of the elect, but in dignity is raised so high above both Angels and men that nothing can be higher or holier than she, who alone has the same Son as God the Father, and who sees above her only God and Christ, and belowe her all creatures other than herself.

Lesson V

The great Athanasius said clearly: Mary is not only the Mother of God, but also can be properly and truly called Queen and Lady, since in fact the Christ who was born of the Virgin Mother is God and Lord and also King. It is to this Queen, therefore, that the Psalmist's words are applied, "The Queen takes her place at Your right hand in garments of gold." Thus Mary is rightly called Queen, not only of heaven, but also of the heavens, as the Mother of the King of Angels, and as the Bride and beloved of the King of the heavens. O Mary, most august Queen and most faithful Mother, to whom no one prays in vain who prays devoutly, and to whom all mortal men are bound by the enduring memory of so many benefits, again and again reverently I beseech you to accept and be pleased with every evidence of my devotion to you, to value the poor gift I offer according to the zeal with which it is offered, and to recommend it to your all-powerful Son.