“And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.” — Luke 1:30
As we contemplate the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Scriptures open before us like a royal garden, wherein the Wisdom of God walks among men, embodied in a humble Virgin, exalted above all creatures. The liturgical texts for this feast direct our hearts and minds to the mystery of Mary’s unique participation in the divine plan—both as the Mother of the King and as Queen in His kingdom.
Wisdom Dwelling on High: Ecclesiasticus 24 and the Eternal Counsel of God
“I came out of the mouth of the Most High, the firstborn before all creatures.” — Ecclesiasticus 24:5
The Church, in her tradition, has long recognized in Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 24 a mystical prefiguration of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the figure of Divine Wisdom. Though this Wisdom is ultimately Christ, Mary is the one in whom Wisdom took flesh, and she too becomes a dwelling place of divine light. St. Epiphanius of Salamis describes Mary as “the heavenly ladder by which God descended,” and thereby, she is linked intrinsically with the very Wisdom that comes forth from God.
In verse 30-31, we read:
“As a vine I have brought forth a pleasant odour: and my flowers are the fruit of honour and riches. I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope.”
These words are not mere poetry; they are prophetic. St. Bernard of Clairvaux, great Cistercian Doctor of the Church, saw in this passage a vivid image of Mary’s spiritual fecundity. He wrote:
“She is that vine from which the most noble cluster was brought forth; she has borne for us the sweet wine that brings joy to God and man.”
Mary’s spiritual motherhood extends not only to Christ, but to all who are born in Him. Her Queenship flows from her maternity—she is Queen because she is Mother of the King.
The Fate of the Wicked and the Elevation of the Humble: Ecclesiasticus 14
In Ecclesiasticus 14:7, 9-11, we are given a stark contrast:
“If he do good, he doth it ignorantly, and unwillingly: and at the last he discovereth his wickedness… The eyes of the Lord are far brighter than the sun, beholding all the ways of men… Give, and take, and justify thy soul.”
Here, the sacred writer reminds us that true justification comes not from worldly power or self-serving goodness, but from aligning one’s soul with the divine will. Mary is the antithesis of the wicked man—she gives entirely, and receives entirely from the Lord. St. Augustine taught that Mary was more blessed in receiving Christ by faith than in conceiving Him in her womb by flesh (De Sancta Virginitate, 3). Her soul was fully justified, fully aligned with God’s will. She did not merely act well, she was full of grace.
The Angelic Salutation: Luke 1:26-33
The Gospel of St. Luke gives us the decisive moment in human history:
“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women… Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign… and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” — Luke 1:28-33
If Christ reigns as King forever, then Mary, as His Mother, reigns forever as Queen. The angel’s announcement is not only about incarnation, but enthronement. The throne of David is restored—not politically, but spiritually and eternally—and Mary, like Bathsheba at the right hand of Solomon (cf. 3 Kings 2:19), is exalted beside her Son.
St. John Damascene, in one of his homilies on the Dormition, declares:
“She is truly become the Queen of all, who brought forth the King of all.”
This is no mere honorary title. The Queen Mother in Israel had intercessory power, a place of honor, and a close relationship with the king. These characteristics are fulfilled supernaturally in Our Lady, whose Queenship is grounded in Scripture, developed in tradition, and affirmed in the hearts of the faithful.
Conclusion: The Queen Crowned in Heaven and Rooted in Earth
The Feast of Beata Maria Virgo Regina is not simply a devotional afterthought—it is a theological affirmation. Mary is Queen not by her own merit, but by the pure grace of God, and by her perfect correspondence to that grace. Her Queenship is both maternal and mediatory, humble and glorified.
Let us then crown her with our love, our prayers, and our imitation. Let us give her the honor due to her as Queen of Heaven and Earth—not because she seeks it, but because her Son has willed it.
“He who is mighty hath done great things for me, and holy is His Name.” — Luke 1:49
In the Queen, we see the most perfect realization of created Wisdom. In her reign, we find the echo of divine mercy. And through her intercession, we are led more deeply into the Kingdom of her Son.
Suggested Devotional Practice: On this feast, recite the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary, particularly meditating on the Fifth Mystery: The Coronation of Our Lady as Queen of Heaven and Earth, offering each decade in thanksgiving for the maternal reign of Mary over our lives.
Further Reading:
- St. Louis de Montfort, True Devotion to Mary
- St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary
- Pope Pius XII, Ad Caeli Reginam (1954)
May Mary, our Queen and Mother, intercede for us always.