When we think of what a queen is, the first thought is that we are regarding the most important woman. Are there “queens” in heaven with crowns and all of the royal regalia? Probably not. Is Mary the most important woman in the Christian tradition? Actually she is the most important person because she is the first among the redeemed and this is what we are being led to reflect on as we consider the Coronation of Mary as the Queen of Heaven.
Something important to realize about the Blessed Mother is that her life can be understood as a pattern for our own and so, her Annunciation parallels our Christian Initiation, her Assumption our promised resurrection of our body and her coronation parallels our entry into eternal union with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As first she holds a unique role among the redeemed and she is symbolized by the notion of queenship.
The feast of the Queenship of Mary (August 22) is the octave (eighth day after) the feast of the Assumption. In the early church they thought that eight days was a symbol of perfection and heaven. In the Mass for the feast, Psalm 45 is sung. It describes a queen in a golden robe. Wherever she goes, she brings justice and splendor and rejoicing. Jewish songs and ritual refer to the Sabbath in this way—when it arrives, is like a queen whose beauty chases away all sorrow.
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