By Colleen Pressprich
On August 22nd of each year, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Queenship of Mary. This is a newer feast of the liturgical year, only being instituted in the mid-1900s, but its roots go back much farther.
What is the feast of the Queenship of Mary?
In 1954, Pope Pius XII wrote the Encyclical To the Queen of Heaven and established the feast of the Queenship of Mary. He explained that he was “ instituting a feast so that all may recognize more clearly and venerate more devoutly the merciful and maternal sway of the Mother of God.” This new feast would be forever tied to the Assumption of Mary, coming on the octave of that feast.
When did Catholics start venerating Mary as Queen?
Even though the official feast itself is relatively new, the origins of it stretch much further back. At the moment he appeared to Mary, Gabriel told her that her son would receive the throne of David (and would thus be king). And when Mary visited Elizabeth soon after, Elizabeth called her “mother of my Lord.”
In short, as long as Jesus has been recognized as King, Mary has been known as Queen. Just like the mothers of kings here on earth are called the “Queen Mother,” so too is Mary.
How can you celebrate the Queenship of Mary with your kids?
There are many ways to celebrate this wonderful feast. Here are a few of my favorites:
Crown your Mary Statues
My girls in particular love to make flower crowns, and there are plenty available in the garden in August. On this feast, we make flower crowns for all of our Mary statues, inside and out. My little ones who can’t make crowns will pick a bouquet and leave it at Mary’s feet.
Pray the Hail Holy Queen
Known in Latin as the Salve Regina, this ancient prayer is one that particularly honors Mary as Queen. It’s beautiful both said and sung. If your family isn’t musical, you can find many wonderful versions online to listen to.
Read the Encyclical
If your children are older (or you want to learn more yourself) take some time on this feast to read the encyclical that announced it. You can find To the Queen of Heaven and all other papal encyclicals on the Vatican Website.
Consider a Marian Consecration
Any feast day that honors Mary is a powerful one for either beginning or ending a consecration to her. When your family makes a consecration to Mary, you’ll be putting your lives and your home into her care, trusting her goodness as Queen of Heaven.
Happy celebrating!
Colleen Pressprich is the author of The Women Doctors of the Church and Marian Consecration for Families with Young Children. She is a homeschooling mom of five kids and lives with her family in Michigan. You can find more of her writing and order her books on her website at elevatortoheaven.com.
