The Fifth Glorious Mystery:
The Coronation of Mary

“Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a violent hailstorm. A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (Rev. 11:19-12:1).

“Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a violent hailstorm. A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (Rev. 11:19-12:1). Our Blessed Mother is the new ark of the covenant for her body was the new dwelling place of God on earth. She brought the Son of God into the world. And in Revelations, we see this new ark of the covenant, the God Bearer, crowned queen of heaven and earth, reflecting the very glory of her divine Son. And now, as on earth, she calls all her children to journey forward with Christ ever nearer divine intimacy and finally the beatific vision.

Jesus crowned Holy Mary as the Queen Mother of Heaven and Earth. This coronation was foreshadowed by the monarchy of King David and other ancient kingdoms. In these kingdoms, the king’s mother ruled as queen, not his wife. And, as in many of these kingdoms, folks often petitioned the queen mother to gain the favor of the king. And, since the wedding at Cana, our Blessed Mother has done precisely that, perpetually presenting the needs and petitions of the family of God to her divine Son. Let us indeed turn to our Holy Mother for her prayers, and let us likewise petition Our Lord on behalf of the pilgrim church.

Briefly reflect, discuss with God, and Praise God.

Mary is the Mother of God. “[T]his supreme dignity… raises her above all other creatures, even to the threshold of infinity, and makes her Queen, not only of men, but also of angels” (Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, Fire Within).

“Your name, O Mother of God, is filled with every divine grace and blessing. You carried in your womb Him whom the heavens could not contain. You nourished Him who feeds the whole world. The Lord of the universe willed to have need of you, for you gave Him the flesh which He did not have before. Rejoice, O Mother and Handmaid of God! Rejoice! You have for debtor Him who gives existence to all creatures; we are all debtors to God, but God is debtor to you!” (St. Methodius as quoted by Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, Fire Within).

Briefly reflect, discuss with God, and Praise God.

The Queen of Heaven and Earth, the Mother of God, is our mother too. “In the natural order a child needs a mother, and suffers both morally and spiritually without one; so also in the supernatural order, souls need a mother, they need Mary, most holy… Then let us call her by that name, let us treat her as a mother—as the Mother of God first of all and then as our own Mother—since Jesus when dying on the Cross, put at our disposal the treasures of her maternity” (Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, Fire Within). Let us nurture our relationship with our Blessed Mother, and through her grow ever nearer Christ himself.

Briefly reflect, discuss with God, and Praise God.

“[T]he Blessed Virgin Mary should be called Queen, not only because of her Divine Motherhood, but also because God has willed her to have an exceptional role in the work of our eternal salvation” (Bl. Pope Pius XII).

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May we better understand that divine royalty is ever forged in humility, sacrifice, and love. May we imitate these as so well modeled by our Holy Mother and Queen!

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“So Mary is a Queen. And, for our consolation, we ought to remember that she is a most tender and kind Queen, eager to help us in our miseries. So much so that the Church wants us to call her in this prayer a Queen of Mercy. Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy!” (St. Alphonsus Liguori)

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry,
poor banished children of Eve.
To thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this our exile
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving,
O sweet Virgin Mary.

V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death, and Resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life; grant, we beseech thee, that by meditating upon these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.