Pope: Mary Is Queen -- Our Sister Who Helps Us, Loves Us
Today's Feast Is Theme at General AudienceBy Kathleen Naab
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, AUG. 22, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI dedicated the Wednesday audience to a reflection on today's feast of the Queenship of Mary, considering what her queenship means and what it means for us.
After noting some of the history of the feast, the Pope explained how Mary's queenship is due to her "unique association to her Son, both during her earthly journey as well as in heavenly glory."
But is this queenship just a title, the Holy Father asked. "[I]t is a consequence of her being united with her Son, of her being in heaven, i.e. in communion with God. She participates in God's responsibilities over the world and in God's love for the world," he explained.
Power and riches is not the type of royalty belonging to Jesus and Mary, the Pontiff added.
Just as Jesus is king on the cross, so Mary is queen in service to humanity, he said.
"The kingship of Jesus has nothing to do with that which belongs to the powerful of the earth," the Pope reflected. "He is a king who serves his servants; he showed this throughout his life. And the same is true for Mary. She is queen in God's service to humanity. She is the queen of love, who lives out her gift of self to God in order to enter into His plan of salvation for man."
Mary is a queen who helps us, Benedict affirmed. "She is queen precisely by loving us, by helping us in every one of our needs; she is our sister, a humble handmaid."
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Full text: www.zenit.org/article-35408?l=english
