Taken from the “Glories of Mary” by ST. ALPHONSUS LIGUORI
THE Holy Church justly honors the great Virgin Mary, and would have her honored by all
men with the glorious title of queen, because she has been elevated to the dignity of mother of the
King of kings. If the Son is king, says St. Athanasius, his mother must necessarily be considered
and entitled queen.* From the moment that Mary consented, adds St. Bernardine of Sienna,
to become the mother of the Eternal Word, she merited the title of queen of the world and all
creatures. If the flesh of Mary, says St. Arnold, abbot, was the flesh of Jesus, how can the
mother be separated from the Son in his kingdom? Hence it follows that the regal glory must not
only be considered as common to the mother and the Son, but even the same.
If Jesus is the king of the whole world, Mary is also queen of the whole world if therefore,
says St. Bernardine of Sienna, all creatures who serve God ought also to serve Mary; for all angels
and men, and all things that are in heaven and on earth being subject to the dominion of
God, are also subject to the dominion of the glorious Virgin. |Hence Guerric, abbot, thus
addresses the divine mother: Continue, Mary, continue in security to reign; dispose, according to
thy will, of every thing belonging to thy Son, for thou, being mother and spouse of the King of
the world, the kingdom and power over all creatures is due to thee as queen.
Mary, then, is queen; but let all learn for their consolation that she is a mild and merciful
queen, desiring the good of us poor sinners. Hence the holy Church bids us salute her in this
prayer, and name her the Queen of Mercy. The very name of queen signifies, as blessed
Albertus Magnus remarks, compassion, and provision for the poor; differing in this from
the title of empress, which signifies severity and rigor. The greatness of kings and queens consists
in comforting the wretched as Seneca says. So that whereas tyrants, in reigning, have only
their own advantage in view, kings should have for their object the good of their subjects.
Therefore at the consecration of kings their heads are anointed with oil, which is the symbol
of mercy, to denote that they, in reigning, should above all things cherish thoughts of
kindness and beneficence towards their subjects.