August 25, 2025

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Taken from the Mass readings for honoring the “Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” which the Church celebrated on Friday, August 22.

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My homily notes:
-Pius XII established this feast in 1954 / Mary’s queenship has roots in Scripture. 

At the Annunciation, Gabriel announced that Mary’s Son would receive the throne of David and rule forever / At the Visitation, Elizabeth calls Mary “mother of my Lord.” As in all the mysteries of Mary’s life, Mary is closely associated with Jesus: Her queenship is a share in Jesus’ kingship. We can also recall that in the Old Testament the mother of the king has great influence within the court and the Kingdom of her Son.

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-In the 4th century Saint Ephrem called Mary “Lady” and “Queen” and Church fathers and doctors continued to use the title: (Also see St. John Henry Newman & Continuity in the Development of Doctrine / We see today’s Dogmas in the early church).

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-This Queenship is a logical follow-up to the Assumption and is now celebrated on the 8th day of that feast / Pius XII points out that Mary deserves the title because she is Mother of God, because she is closely associated as the New Eve with Jesus’ redemptive work, because of her preeminent perfection and because of her intercessory power.

Matthew 22:34–40

-As I read these verses / all I could see was Mary’s Immaculate Heart / (Back of the Miraculous Medal): Mary’s Immaculate heart connected to the Sacred Heart.

-You want to really know her Son / To follow His Commandments rooted in love / Mary is our model / She is our Queen and mother / Give Jesus your heart / Mary did & does.

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The Practical:
-Be careful not to make a list and say to Jesus: if I keep this one / Will you love me / No, like Mary, Jesus wants our hearts, our trust, our lives for Him.

I will leave you two memories I have of why I love my Mother as an example of Mother Mary:

-A little boy sitting in her lap after school / Knowing she was a bridge to my father and my protector in life.

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-Visiting her at work / Always knew my Queen Mother would give me proper perspective and importance of the others in my life (Context: we both worked in the same shopping mall in the evening and I visited her while she kept books for a local store).

Revelation 12:1 / “A great sign appeared in the heavens: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.”

“The queen, clothed in cloth of gold, stood on your right hand. And upon her head a crown of twelve stars.”

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Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth & Mother of God / Pray for us.

Amen

Vivat Jesus,
Father Vic Gournas