Beloved brothers and sisters, dear worshipers, and children of the Virgin Mary! Today we celebrate the feast of the Virgin Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth. This Marian holiday was introduced in 1954 when the Holy Father Pius XII—crowned in the Roman Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore a live image of the Virgin Mary, called Salus populi Romani – Salvation of the Roman People. It was on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the declaration of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. Before the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council, this feast was celebrated on May 31; now it is celebrated a week after the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary – who took you, Virgin, into heaven and who, Virgin, crowned you in heaven.
My dears, people used to elect different “beauty queens” every year, or as it is more modernly called, “miss.” So we have “Miss Universe,” “Miss World,” “Miss Europa,” “Miss Republic,” and other “misses.” It is undoubtedly ludicrous, ridiculous – and I am not afraid to say the shameful behavior of this world. It would be much more necessary for us to choose the Most Holy Virgin of Nazareth as the only model of true and pure beauty for our spiritual life. This model of beauty stood two thousand years ago and always is and will be relevant.
Brothers and sisters, the example and model of the Virgin Mary can be followed equally by man and woman, young and old. The Virgin Mary is a model and an example for the poor and the rich, educated and simple, healthy and sick. The Blessed Virgin is truly a unique Queen, not only for that one year, but since her Ascension, she is the Queen of all times and ages, of all nations, and all human hearts.
My dear ones, the Loretta litanies multiply this royal title of Our Lady. The Blessed Virgin is the Queen of all the Old Testament patriarchs, as she is and will be the Queen of the last apostle. She is the Queen of all martyrs, from the righteous Abel to the last martyr on earth. She is the Queen of all those fighting and struggling, including those who, in an intimate consecration, want to belong as faithfully as possible to Christ in virginal integrity. She is the Queen of Peace – after all, warriors such as Camille de Lellis, John of God, or Ignatius of Loyola laid their swords on her altar, only to fight with the weapon of love and mercy for lasting and certain peace in the Kingdom of her Son.
Brothers and sisters, this heavenly Queen won the hearts of simple children and scientists, artists, and all the greats of this world and will prevail until the end of the ages, young and old. Her image or medal is known to the Iroquois and the Eskimo, the Indian and the Chinese, and the African black and the European of the Aryan race. Artists of all fields and at all times try to create the most beautiful works in her honor.
My dear ones, from the first beat of the Divine Heart of Jesus in her mother’s womb, the kingdom of Satan was shaken because Mary struck the head of the infernal serpent. It started so simply that it surprised heaven, earth, and the underworld. The girl from Nazareth opened her “royal career” in a way no one expected. Against the age-old enemy of humanity and the prince of this world, she pulled out one weapon – humility! My FIAT – LET IT BE TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD! To rule one day, she began to serve. To one day live in the royal palace, where the King sits on the starry throne, she began living with the royal Son in an ordinary Bethlehem stable. To be the mother of all, she first experienced exile in Egypt. To be the “Seat of Wisdom,” she began to work in secret as a Nazarene woman. To be a “comforter of the sorrowful,” she first had to experience Calvary.
Brothers and sisters, for the Virgin Mary to be the Mother of the Church, of all peoples and all ages, she first had to place the most precious sacrifice of her Immaculate Heart on the paten – she had to sacrifice her Son – the God-man – on the cross. She gave this divine Host as a propitiation to the heavenly Father to forgive Adam and his descendants, to adopt the whole world into the family of God’s children.
My dears, the feast of Our Lady the Queen should remind us of the sacrifice of her Immaculate Heart, by which she earned the tiara of Queen of Heaven and Earth. We congratulate her on the glory she paid so dearly for her love of us. Now it is clear why the Virgin Mother can royally win innocent hearts the way she once could to convert the stormy spirits of Ambrose, Augustine, Bernard, or Alphonsus. Now it is clear why there are so many Marian pilgrimage sites worldwide. Now it is clear why so many people fervently pray the Holy Rosary. Now we understand why famous surgeons call on the Queen of Heaven and Earth for help before surgery.
Friends of God, the Virgin Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, conquered the whole world with the beauty of her purity and the power of her humility. By humility – as St. Bernard – she attracted God, conceived him with righteousness, and embraced him forever with love. And she still welcomes him with this love as our Lady, Intercessor, and Intercessor. Whoever begins at her feet with trust and childlike devotion will sooner or later be convinced that Mary is truly a Queen with a Mother’s heart! Therefore, it was never heard of her abandoning someone who took refuge under her protection. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who flee to you!
