Heaven’s Crown for Earth’s Mother

On August 22, the Church joyfully celebrates the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a feast that flows naturally from the Solemnity of the Assumption, observed just a week earlier. The connection is deliberate: once Mary is assumed body and soul into the glory of heaven, she is crowned by her Son as Queen of Heaven and Earth. This feast proclaims the truth that Mary, as the Mother of the King of Kings, participates uniquely in His reign. The Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms that she is “exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son” (CCC 966). This celebration is not merely symbolic—it is a statement about God’s design for salvation. The one who humbly accepted the angel’s word at the Annunciation is now enthroned beside her Son, continuing her maternal care for the Church. In venerating Mary’s Queenship, the faithful are reminded that her exaltation is a foretaste of the glory that awaits all who remain faithful to Christ.

From a Marian Year to a Marian Crown

The Feast of the Queenship of Mary was instituted by Pope Pius XII during the Marian Year of 1954, a global celebration of the Blessed Mother’s role in the life of the Church. In his encyclical Ad Caeli Reginam (To the Queen of Heaven), the Pope formally recognized Mary’s royal dignity, drawing from Scripture, the writings of the Church Fathers, and centuries of devotion. The date was originally set for May 31, but in 1969 it was moved to August 22 to highlight its theological link with the Assumption. This positioning emphasizes the sequence: the Mother of God is assumed into heaven and then crowned Queen. The feast draws from a tradition that spans back to the early Church, when Christians honored Mary with titles of royalty as an expression of her intimate participation in Christ’s victory over sin and death. By officially instituting this celebration, the Church made clear that Mary’s Queenship is not a poetic flourish, but a doctrine deeply woven into the mysteries of our faith.

Mary the Queen in Prayer

While the Queenship of Mary is not tied to a specific apparition, it is deeply rooted in the Church’s prayer life and liturgy. For centuries, Christians have turned to Mary as Queen through beloved hymns such as Salve Regina (“Hail, Holy Queen”) and Regina Caeli (“Queen of Heaven, rejoice”), each expressing trust in her intercession and her tender reign. The Litany of Loreto, approved for public use in the 16th century, includes a series of “Queen” titles—Queen of Angels, Queen of Patriarchs, Queen of Prophets, Queen of Apostles, Queen of All Saints, Queen of Peace—that span the breadth of salvation history and reveal the many dimensions of her maternal care. The Rosary’s fifth Glorious Mystery, the Coronation of Mary, allows the faithful to contemplate her Queenship as the crowning moment of her participation in Christ’s saving work. In all these devotions, the faithful proclaim her both Mother and Sovereign, drawing close to the Queen who never ceases to lead her children to the King.

Why the Crown Belongs to Her

Mary’s Queenship is inseparably linked to her role as the Mother of God. In the Davidic kingdom, the queen was not the king’s wife but his mother—the “Gebirah” or Great Lady—who held a place of honor and interceded for the people. As the Mother of Jesus, the Son of David, Mary holds the highest dignity in His Kingdom. Her Queenship is also the culmination of her unique cooperation in the work of redemption. From the Annunciation to Calvary, she united her will to God’s plan in perfect obedience, making her the New Eve who shares in her Son’s victory over sin. The Assumption completes this mission, as Mary is brought body and soul into heavenly glory, and the crown placed upon her head signifies her eternal role as Mother and Advocate. Far from diminishing Christ’s kingship, Mary’s crown magnifies it, for all her glory is derived from Him. The Church teaches that in honoring Mary as Queen, we proclaim Christ as King all the more.

Where the Queen is Honored

Throughout the world, the faithful honor Mary’s Queenship through sacred spaces, processions, and special acts of veneration. The Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando, Florida, welcomes millions of pilgrims each year who come to seek her intercession and to deepen their devotion. In Montréal, the magnificent Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral stands as a visible testament to her reign, inspiring awe and prayer in the hearts of visitors. Many parishes mark the feast with the crowning of Marian statues—a tradition the Church formally recognizes in the Order of Crowning an Image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This act is not mere ceremony; it is a symbolic renewal of the faithful’s trust in Mary’s maternal care and her intercession before the throne of God. Pilgrimage, whether to great basilicas or local shrines, fosters conversion, renews Marian devotion, and strengthens the bond between the Queen and her people.

The World Sings to Its Queen

The Queenship of Mary is celebrated across cultures with unique expressions of joy and reverence. In many countries, processions fill the streets, statues of Mary are adorned with crowns and flowers, and the faithful gather for solemn Masses and community feasts. Hymns such as Salve Regina are sung with particular devotion, and the Litany of Loreto resounds with its queenly invocations. In the Philippines, Spain, Latin America, and parts of Europe, Marian festivals often incorporate this theme, blending liturgy with cultural traditions that have been passed down for generations. Families may pray the Rosary together, reflecting on the Coronation mystery, while churches decorate Marian altars with white and gold to symbolize purity and glory. These celebrations do more than honor Mary—they unite communities, inspire acts of charity, and deepen the understanding that the Queen of Heaven is also the loving Mother of each believer.

Living Under the Queen’s Mantle

Mary’s crown is not a symbol of distance but of closeness. Her Queenship reveals a love that reigns through service, mercy, and unending intercession. She is the Queen who stoops to help the lowly, the Mother who hears the cries of her children and brings them to her Son. To live under her mantle is to let her lead us to Christ in every circumstance. This feast challenges us to adopt her virtues—humility, steadfast faith, and courageous love—in our daily lives. It invites us to see every act of kindness, every moment of obedience to God’s will, as a way of sharing in the royal dignity that comes from following Christ. When we acknowledge Mary as our Queen, we are not merely honoring her—we are choosing to let her shape us into the saints God calls us to be.

Engage with Us!

We would love to hear how this feast day inspires you! Share your reflections, prayers, or personal experiences in the comments below so that together we may grow in love for our Blessed Mother and in devotion to her Son.

1. How does Mary’s Queenship help you trust Jesus more fully?
2. Where do you most need the Queen Mother’s intercession right now?
3. What concrete act of mercy can you offer today “under her mantle”?

Let’s grow together in devotion and courage under our Blessed Mother’s gentle reign.