A Homily for the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Friday, August 22, 2025
Prince of Peace Catholic Church – 8:00 Mass
Isaiah 9:1-6; Psalm 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8; Luke 1:26-38
Audio Recording
Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Just one week after honoring her Assumption into heaven, we now contemplate Mary having been crowned in glory as the Queen of Heaven and Earth, taking her place beside her Son, Christ the King.
Our first reading from Isaiah speaks of the Messiah: “For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.” Jesus is the King whose reign will never end. And where there is a king, there is also a queen.
In ancient Israel, however, the queen was not the king’s wife — it was his mother. We see this in the Book of Kings (1 Kings 2:19), when Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, approached her son on behalf of his older brother Adonijah (ad-uh-NYE-juh). Here we read: “The king rose to meet her, bowed down to her, and sat on his throne. Then a throne was brought for the king’s mother, and she sat at his right.” From that point on, she was known as the Gebirah (geh-BEE-rah) — the Queen Mother — whose role was to intercede with the king on behalf of the people.
This Old Testament pattern helps us understand Mary’s role. If Jesus is the eternal King in the line of David, then His Mother is truly the Queen Mother. Her role is not honorary; it is intercessory. Like Bathsheba, she brings the petitions of the people to her Son.
We see her queenship already at the Annunciation in today’s Gospel. Mary gives her “yes” to the angel, and becomes the Mother of the One who “will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom there will be no end.” By God’s design, she shares in Jesus’ royal dignity.
Mary’s intercession is seen most clearly at the wedding feast of Cana. The wine runs out, and she notices. She brings the situation to Jesus: “They have no wine.” At her request, He performs His first miracle. This is the Queen Mother at work — not seeking favors for herself, but obtaining grace for others.
That continues today. We do not worship Mary — worship belongs to God alone. But we honor her as Queen, because she always leads us to her Son. She sees when “the wine runs out” in our lives — when joy fades, when hope weakens — and she carries our needs to Christ, who is never deaf to her prayers.
This is why the Church has given us the Rosary, the powerful prayer where we contemplate the mysteries of Christ’s life with Mary. The final Glorious Mystery is the Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth. When we pray this mystery, we affirm her queenship and ask for her intercession in our lives.
We all know that praying the Rosary is not simply repeating words — it is sitting with Mary, meditating on Christ, and allowing her to bring our intentions to the throne of her Son. The Rosary is the prayer of the people to their Queen Mother, and through her, to the King of Kings.
So I encourage you: pray the Rosary. Pray it for your family, for peace in the world, for our parish, for the sick, and for your own needs. Each “Hail Mary” is like placing a rose at her feet, trusting that she will present it to Christ. And together, these prayers become a crown of roses for our Queen.
Brothers and sisters, Isaiah foretold that the Messiah would bring light into the darkness and peace into turmoil. Mary’s role as Queen is to help us receive that light and peace more fully. She intercedes, she guides, and she leads us always closer to Jesus.
So today, whatever burdens you carry, entrust them to Mary our Queen. Let her place them before her Son. For as the psalm says today: “He raises up the lowly from the dust, to seat them with princes.” That’s what God does for us, especially as we approach his throne through the intercession of His Mother.
May Mary, our Queen and Mother, lead us to live always as faithful children of her Son, Christ the King — and may she one day bring us to share her joy in His eternal kingdom, praying for us now and at the hour of our death.
Mary our Mother, Queen of Heaven, pray for us.