Today is a powerfully Catholic celebration: The Crowning of Our Queen.
Being raised Protestant, this kind of thing struck me as extremely weird. Also, as an American, we have mixed feelings about using titles of royalty. A king or queen is fine … but not here.
But this concept is more Biblically based than I thought, even though a specific event is never mentioned.
And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery. — Revelation 12:1-2
Yes, we believe that this is speaking of Mary. The book goes on to reference her crown and power.
And, of course, we have the foretelling of Jesus’ birth:
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end. — Luke 1:32-33
Jesus is King, reigning over the entire universe. So his mother is … Queen! Incredibly appropriate.
Where does Mary’s incredible power come from? She was just a person, right? It stems from her purity and humility. Which I’m trying to develop myself.
Demons and devils tremble in front of her.
So Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope!