20TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME – YEAR C, FRIDAY

By: Rev. Fr. Fredrick Kiwanuka

Matthew 22:34-40

On October 11, 1954, His Holiness, Pope Pius XII, in his Encyclical letter “Ad Caeli Reginam- To the Queen of Heaven” focused the attention of the whole Church on Mary when he declared a Feast Day honouring her queenship. He declared that the Church has believed in Mary’s Queenship from the earliest Centuries and that this belief rests on Holy Scripture and Tradition. When Elizabeth spoke of Mary as “the Mother of my Lord” Lk 1:43, she was using the words that mean “Queen Mother” in the Old Testament, according to the gospel of Luke.

Jesus is the Lord and King of Heaven and Earth. So, Mary, who was chosen by the Father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and was made the mother of Christ, and can be considered Queen. Like a queen, she stood at the cross on Calvary, supporting her Kingly Son’s sacrifice with her love, faith and obedience. Thus, from the earliest Centuries of the Church, Christians have addressed fervent prayers and hymns of praise to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Because of her eminence, she is entitled to the highest honour that can be bestowed upon any creature, for she is the glorious Queen of the Universe.

Ecclesiastical writers called Mary “Mother of the King”, Mother of the Lord: St. Gregory Nazianzen called her “the mother of the King of the entire world”. From the testimonies of the fathers, theologians concluded that the Blessed Virgin is Queen of all Creation, Sovereign mistress of all men. Accordingly, St. Alphonsus of Liguori sum up the tradition by saying, “Since the great Virgin Mary was raised to the dignity of Mother of the King of Kings, the Church justly honours her, and wishes that she be honoured with the glorious title of Queen. Mary, Queen of Angels, Queen of Patriarchs, Queen of Prophets, Queen of Apostles, Queen of Martyrs, Queen of Confessors, Queen of Virgins, Queen of all saints, Queen conceived without original sin. Queen assumed into Heaven, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, Queen of peace.

Mary’s power as queen is manifested in the tenderness of a loving mother who cares for her children. St. Bernard (Feast August 20), who had a great devotion to Mary, often wrote books and sermons inspiring his listeners to turn to her.

Here is something he wrote: –

In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary… with her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart, so long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection, you have nothing to fear….

@ Christ the King Parish, Kampala