August 22 | The Queenship of Mary

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories. Today, we are talking about a teenager who received a completely terrifying and glorious message from an angelic messenger that ultimately catapulted her to the highest position of royalty in the universe. Today, we are diving into the life of Mary, the mother of Jesus, but specifically diving into the divine queenship of Mary.

Imagine being just a normal, everyday person, and suddenly an angel appears to you with news that will change the course of human history forever. This is exactly what happened to Mary at the Annunciation. The angel Gabriel appeared and told her that she was going to have a son, and not just any son.

Gabriel told Mary, the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. Because Jesus is the divine king who reigns forever on that throne of David, Mary is the queen who reigns right alongside him. To really understand how dramatic and fascinating this is, we have to look back at how royal courts actually worked in the ancient world of the Old Testament. Back then, kings often had many wives, so the title of queen didn't actually go to a wife.

The most powerful woman in the kingdom, the woman who had the king's ear, who could ask for favors, and who held immense authority, was the woman who had the king's ear, who could ask for favors, and who held immense authority. Was the king's mother? Just as those mothers had massive influence in the king's court in the Old Testament, Mary has that exact same powerful influence in Jesus' kingship today. She isn't just a quiet figure in the background. She is the ultimate advocate who stands right beside the king.

Every year on August 22, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Queenship of Mary. This isn't just a random date on the calendar, either. It takes place exactly an octave, which is eight days, after the feast of her Assumption into Heaven. This specific feast day was officially established in the year 1954 by Pope Pius XII. He declared that from the very earliest times, Christians believed that Mary, because she gave birth to the Son of the Most High, received privileges of grace far above all other created beings.

Think about that for a second. Above all other beings created by God. So, here is your challenge for today. Use your influence to advocate for others. Mary's entire role as queen is based on the fact that she has influence in the king's court. She uses her voice to bring our needs directly to Jesus. In your life right now, you also have influence. You have a voice in your friend group, in your classroom, or in your family. You don't need a golden crown to be an advocate.

You just need the courage to speak up. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.