Wednesday 22 August 2012

Mary's Queenship, from the children of Eve



"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.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God:
That we may be made worthy of the
promises of Christ."
("Hail, Holy Queen", traditional prayer of the Rosary)



In 1954, Pope Pius XII established 22nd August as the feast day for The Queenship of Mary: the date was seen as a logical "follow-up" to the feast of The Assumption".
In his encyclical  "To the Queen of Heaven", Pius XII confirms that Mary deserves the title not only as Mother of God, but because she is perceived as the redemptive Eve, with unique intercessory powers.
Mary's Queenship is steeped in Scripture, with reference to her matriarchal glory made at both The Annunciation and The Visitation. In the fourth century, St Ephrem called Mary both "Lady" and "Queen". Subsequent Marian hymns continue these titles: "Hail, Holy Queen", "Hail, Queen of Heaven".
 
The "Salve Regina", ("Hail, Holy Queen"), was composed in the Middle Ages, therefore originally in Latin, by German Monk Hermann of Reichenau. There have been many subsequent translations and "Hail, Holy Queen" is also the closing prayer of the Rosary: it's said at prayers at each meeting of The Catholic Women's League. Wonderfully moving when traditionally sung as Gregorian chant, "Hail, Holy Queen" also lends itself to really jubilant renditions: the attached video is from the film "Sister Act"; maybe not quite what you were expecting in honour of the feast of Mary's Queenship, but I think it's a delight.. Also, I just love to see nuns clapping and singing their hearts out.


"Hail, Holy Queen"  from "Sister Act"

1 comment:

  1. Hello Colleen! I know some people think the film really trivializes (is that spelt correctly??) faith, but I find "Sister Act" really warm and endearing; heartwarming for Chrisians in fact. Thank you for dropping by! I hope you and hubby are well and happy x

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