Ave Maria Meditations
According to ancient tradition and the sacred liturgy, the main principle on which the royal dignity of Mary rests is her Divine Motherhood… Hence Mary is a Queen, since she bore a Son who at the very moment of His conception, because of the hypostatic union of the human nature with the Word, was also as man King and Lord of all things.
Now in the accomplishing of this work of redemption the Blessed Virgin Mary was most closely associated with Christ. Just as Jesus, because He redeemed us, is our King by a special title, so the Blessed Virgin also is our Queen on account of the unique manner in which she assisted in our redemption, by giving of her own substance, by freely offering Him for us, by her singular desire and petition for and active interest in our salvation.
From her union with Christ she receives the royal right to dispose of the treasures of the Divine Redeemer’s kingdom. From her union with Christ is derived the power of her motherly intercession before the Son and His Father.
Prayer to Mary: you are a Queen because you are the Mother of the Word incarnate Christ the universal King because He rules all creatures by His personal union with the divinity. “His reign will be without end.”
You are a Queen also because you are Co-redemptrix. Jesus reigns over us not only by natural right, but also by the right of redemption. As cooperator with your Son in that work of redemption, you also acquired the right to reign with Him. God chose you to be His Mother and by that very choice has associated you with Himself in the work of the salvation of men.
Mary, yours is a queenship of goodness. You add a degree of motherly sweetness to the joy of the angels and saints and to the blessed of the Church triumphant. To the Church suffering you bring consolation, relief, deliverance; to the Church militant you offer aid, confidence, victory.
Yours is a queenship of dominion. The more fully you are queen in a soul, the more does Jesus reign there as King. Reign over my mind and heart and will and body so I may belong completely to Jesus through you.
Yours is a queenship of conquest. How many souls have still to be brought under the rule of Christ the King! Fulfill your apostolic mission of winning the world for Christ. Hasten the reign of Christ by ruling over all of us, your children. All souls belong to you and your Son. He is King and you are Queen of all hearts. Rule over us by the queenly power of your love that the kingdom of your Son, the kingdom of truth and life, holiness and grace, justice, love, and peace, may come upon earth.
From The Complete Marian Prayerbook
