Mary, A Queen? Why? Why Not?

Why is Mary a Queen? People often ask that, not only those from other religions but also inside catholic circles. Why would Catholics and Orthodox render Mary a Queen? Is it Biblical?

Simple logic only, if the Son is a king, then the mother must be a ruler like him. Closed family ties especially among royal blood compels every member of the family to possess a title or even a duty of rule. This is evident even in our own times in modern royal families whom distant relatives were given titles and special privileges.

Elizabeth called Mary this way, too:

"When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the
baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was
filled with the Holy Spirit.

"And she cried out with a loud voice and
said, "Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb!"
(Luke 1:41-42, emphasis mine)


Elizabeth calls the mother and her child "Blessed". True, the baby in Mary's womb is blessed indeed for He is the King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2) and the Kings of kings and Lord of lords (Revelations 19:16). And Elizabeth called Mary "blessed" too, not only that, she called her blessed "among women". And are these Elizabeth's own words? No, because Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit at that time, the Holy Spirit instructed her to witness what was revealed to her.

If Jesus is a king, then He has a kingdom. The Angel also proved this, saying:

"He will be great and will be called the
Son of the Most High; and the Lord God
will give Him the throne of His father David;

and He will reign over the house of Jacob
forever, and His kingdom will have no end."
(Luke 1:32-33, emphasis mine)


If Jesus has a kingdom, then Mary is a part of it, for Jesus had been a part of Mary in her womb. Inseparably, the Holy Spirit was right in calling the two "Blessed". If Mary, then, is blessed among women, then Mary is a queen, for in a kingdom what woman can be more blessed than a Queen ?


Also, scripture tells us that when we will reign with Christ when we endure suffering.

"If we suffer, we shall also reign with him:
if we deny him, he also will deny us."
(2 Timothy 2:12, emphasis mine)

Did Mary suffered, too? Yes, according to the scriptures:

"And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary
His mother, "Behold, this Child is appointed
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and for a sign to be opposed--

"and a sword will pierce even your
own soul--to the end that thoughts
from many hearts may be revealed."
(Luke 2:34-35, akin ang pagdiriin)


Mary did suffer, like a sword that pierced his own soul. And I doubt Mary denied her Son. She was there at the Cross, looking at her Son. Unlike the other disciples, Mary didn't flee. She remained a Mother.

She Surpassed Them All

"Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all."

(Proverbs 31:29)

She had surpassed all the Biblical women of faith, with her humility, virtue and firm belief.

Sarah bore the son of the promise, Isaac. Mary bore the Son of God, God's promise of redemption and salvation.

Rebekah by her charity made to drink the thirsty servant of Abraham and his camels. Mary, in her charity desired to provide wine in the wedding at Cana, and inform her Son about it, who is the source of all satisfaction.

Rachel cunningly guided her Son Jacob to outwit Esau, so is Mary, who reared her Son who became submissive to her and to his foster father in Nazareth. By this he grew in wisdom and is greatly favored by God and men.

The mother of Moses hide him three months. When she couldn't anymore hide him, she cared for it in an ark and let it drift in the river, while his sister watches on. Mary kept her son thirty years, and let him go in the start of his public mission, yet she still look after her son, even to the cross.

Rahab helped the spies in their hiding and in their excursion within the walls of Jericho. Mary helped the apostles and all the believers in their hiding by praying with them for nine days.

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With All the Saints

It is All Hallow's eve in the western hemisphere when I write this, and I presume that the western neighborhoods is now at full throttle with all of the Halloween stuffs, like the trick-or-treating, halloween parties and the like. here in the Philippines, we got a share of the American halloween spirit by watching scary movies at home. But most of the time, Filipinos never see Halloween as something horrifying at all, but holy and a special day for praying for the dead.

November 1 is a special day for all the saints. In many parts of the country, Filipino catholics (and even a huge number of Protestants) would go to the cemetery to visit the gravesites of their deceased loved ones and offer candles and prayers for them. It is queer that many do this visitation on November 1, while it is more proper to do this on the day afterwards (November 2, All soul's day). But logic prevails: offering prayer on November 1 can be very advantageable for prayers are directed to the saints in order for them to help the souls in purgatory.

De fide, the saints do offer their prayers today to all mankind for today is their feast day. Special favors are granted from all of them. It is a holy obligation to ask their assistance in this day. For me, praying to them entails the benefit of praying for yourself and your loved ones, alive or late.