Praying the Rosary through the Gospel: Crowning of Our Lady Queen of Heaven
Submitted by Deacon Jim Krupka
Like the Assumption, not all Christians view the Crowning of Mary similarly. That’s why it merits the name “mystery” and is worthy of meditation. In Revelation, John describes a woman “caught up to God and his throne” (Rev12:5). “And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (Rev 12:1). This is part of God’s ultimate triumph.
Mary certainly played the role of “blessed among women” to bring about the triumph. The Catechism says, “Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death” (CCC, 966).
In Old Testament days, King David’s successor, Solomon, reigned with his mother, Bathsheba, at his right hand. In that culture, a Queen Mother would approach her son, the King, to speak on behalf of another person. Queen Mothers in other Near Eastern cultures had the same influence. In Mesopotamia, the Queen Mother was an intercessor for the people. The advocacy role of the Queen Mother did not reduce the King’s absolute authority.
St. Ephraim in the Fourth Century said, “After the Mediator (Jesus), you (Mary) are the Mediatrix of the whole world.” Church Fathers at Vatican II said, “the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix.” These roles fit a Queen and Queen Mother. Theologian and scholar Dr. Scott Hahn points out that just as David and Solomon are types of Jesus, the “Son of David,” so Mary’s role in the Kingdom of the Son of David is prefigured by the role of Queen Mother.
We have the reality of Mary as our Spiritual Mother. The Gospel of John, describing words from Jesus’ last breathing moments on the Cross, says, “Woman, behold your son. Then he said to the disciple, “Behold your mother.” (John 19:26-27). Pope Leo XIII confirmed what had been a long-standing belief. The Pope said that regarding Mary’s role as Mother, “Now in John, according to the constant mind of the Church, Christ designated the whole human race.”