Today the Church celebrates the Queenship of Mary, Mother of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The Church did not invent the idea of Mary as Queen. Pope Pius XII explicitly emphasized this when he instituted the feast in 1954. He noted that Christians had addressed Mary as Queen of Heaven from the earliest centuries and that the title was already present in ancient Christian writings, liturgy, theology, and devotional practice.
The theological foundation is especially important. To begin, Mary is the Mother of Jesus, the King, the Davidic Messiah and eternal King. Therefore, Mary participates in his royal dignity as his mother.
Mary’s queenship, as the Church professes, is entirely dependent upon Christ’s kingship. Mary is not a competing sovereign alongside Christ; she is Queen because she is the Mother of the King and because she shares uniquely in his mission.
Mary is the Church’s preeminent example of what God ultimately intends for the Church, as manifested in her life example: faithfulness leads to glory; humble service leads to exaltation; communion with Christ leads to participation in his life. This is the pathway for all disciples to emulate.
