Preparation for the feast of the Queenship of Our Lady: Day One

Ave Maria!

Following the traditional calendar (which my order does for the breviary) the 31st May is the feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast is traditionally preceded not by a novena or a triduum of prayer but by a septenary, or, in other words, seven days of prayer. To help us better understand this privilege of our Blessed Mother and to celebrate this feast which beautifully finishes the month of May I will be posting here some short reflections and prayers here each day.

Reflection.

Sermon of St. Peter Canisius, Priest On the Incomparable Virgin Mary, Mother of God.

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 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 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 below her creatures other than herself.

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 does so 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.

Prayer.

I praise and bless you, O eternal Trinity, because you have preserved Mary from the original guilt by making her Immaculate.

O Immaculate Virgin, joy of the Most Holy Trinity, may you be my strength to overcome sin and lead a life that is holy and pleasing to God. Live in me, my Mother and glorify your Divine Son in me.

Hail Mary...

Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the universe, pray for us!