Why So Much Fuss About Mary? Because She is Our Queen!

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“What is all the fuss about Mary?” many ask. Why make such a big deal?

Converts and cradle Catholics, some are confused, and some have genuine doubt. Some have simply never heard it explained properly before and so don’t have a good understanding.

But if we understand that Mary is our Queen, appointed by Jesus, then many Catholic practices and beliefs fall into place, so I thought I’d put this out there. If Jesus is our King and Mary is his Queen, then everything else falls into place and we have only to bow our knee to our King and his Queen.

There is no doubt that Jesus is our King. The whole theme of Matthew’s Gospel is Jesus and his kingdom; the announcement of the kingdom, descriptions of the kingdom, the establishment of the kingdom, the tearing down of the old kingdom. Jesus spends all of Chapter 13 of Matthews Gospel giving parables about what his kingdom will be like.

When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone. (John 6:14-15)

The people around Jesus recognized him as thier King. It’s undeniable.

And we must always remember that the Old Testament is the story of God preparing his people to accept their Messiah, preparing Israel and the whole world to accept their King. And when we look at all the Kings of the Old Testament who come before and prefigure Jesus, we find a curious fact about who these Kings appointed to be their Queens.

Then Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, and the king stood up to meet her and paid her homage. Then he sat down upon his throne, and a throne was provided for the king’s mother, who sat at his right. (1 Kings 2:19)

Bathsheba was King David’s wife but was the mother of King Solomon. No one in the kingdom was higher than the king, yet Solomon pays homage to his mother and seats her in a throne on his right. This is because Bathsheba is not only Solomon’s mother but she is also the queen.

It makes sense that kings would appoint their mother’s as queen. Wives were often exchanged as part of a military alliance. Each king would give a daughter or a niece to the king with which he was making a military alliance. This was a way for a king to make sure that he had a person in intimate contact with the king with whom he had made an aliiance, someone in his allies inner court. But for a king to make this wife into a queen was to elevate a blood relative of a potential rival to a place of great authority in his kingdom, and this was too great a risk. Kings therefor, did not appoint their wives to be queen but appointed their mother’s to the position of queen instead. That is why we see Solomon bring a throne for and pay homage to his mother Bathsheba. Bathsheba, Solomon’s Mother, is also Solomon’s Queen.

The Hebrew word for queen-mother or literally “Grand lady” is Gebirah. We see references to the Gebirah elswhere in the Old Testament.

Jehu met the kinsmen of Ahazi’ah king of Judah, and he said, “Who are you?” And they answered, "We are the kinsmen of Ahazi’ah, and we came down to visit the royal princes and the sons of the queen mother."
(2 Kings 10:13)

This was after King Jeconiah and the queen mother, the court officials, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, the artisans and smiths had left Jerusalem. (Jerimiah 29:2)


In fact, the various kings throught he centuries are listed in the Books of Kings and the Books of Chronicals, and with every king, the king’s mother is also listed.

In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, son of Nebat, Abijam became king of Judah; he reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah, daughter of Abishalom. (1 Kings 15:1-2)

In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king of Judah; he reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother was named Micaiah, daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. (2 Chronicals 13:1-2)

Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah, from Jerusalem. (2 Chronicals 26:3)


There are dozens of verses like this. God is telling us who the mother of the king was because the mother of the king was a queen.

*A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. (Revelation 12:1) *

We can argue who the woman in Revelation 12 is but the fact that she wears a crown is clear. Only kings and queens wear crowns. The woman is clearly a queen. The woman is described as giving birth to a male child who rules the nations, and this description is consistent with a king and his mother the queen. The fact that the woman’s son in Revelation 12 is “Caught up to God and his throne” leads most Christians to believe that the child is Jesus. The mother can only be Mary, and Mary is Queen.

As Queen of Heaven and earth, Mary has been granted very real power and authority. As a Queen with real authority, we are right to ask her for help, and for protection, and for guidance.

Mary is Queen of Heaven and earth. All the angels in Heaven bow before Mary the Queen of Heaven. All the saints in Heaven bow before Mary the Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Shouldn’t we do the same?

-Tim-
 
"All the angels in Heaven bow before Mary the Queen of Heaven. All the saints in Heaven bow before Mary the Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Shouldn’t we do the same?

-Tim-
don’t get me wrong i love Mary but
i don’t know about all angels and saints bowing
to her. anything about this in the CCC or ECFs,
or Tradition? i know there are paintings showing
this.

what mean by bowing…at the knee or like
an oriental bow, or what 🤷

at the name of Jesus every knee will bow (Phi 2:10)
 
don’t get me wrong i love Mary but
i don’t know about all angels and saints bowing
to her. anything about this in the CCC or ECFs,
or Tradition? i know there are paintings showing
this.
I get your point. We know that Our Lady is Queen of Heaven and Earth, but what they actually do or how it is expressed in heaven - is, I think, beyond our imagination.

Came across this interesting article (extract below) and like the way the Holy Father puts it.

At his Angelus audience on Sunday, November 26, Pope Benedict XVI called attention to the day’s Gospel readings, for the feast of Christ the King, and reminded the faithful, “The Cross is the ‘throne’ from which He demonstrated the sublime regality of God-love.” **
Christ’s kingdom will be fully realized on earth, the Pontiff said, " after all the enemies - and in the last instance, death - have been defeated." Until then, he encouraged the faithful to “freely accept the truth of God’s love.”
The perfect exemplar of that acceptance, he pointed out, is the Virgin Mary. Her humble and unconditional acceptance of God’s will in her life, the Pope noted, was the reason that “God exalted her over all other creatures, and Christ crowned her Queen of heaven and earth.” **catholicculture.org/news/features/index.cfm?recnum=47863
 
“What is all the fuss about Mary?” many ask. Why make such a big deal?

Converts and cradle Catholics, some are confused, and some have genuine doubt. Some have simply never heard it explained properly before and so don’t have a good understanding.

But if we understand that Mary is our Queen, appointed by Jesus, then many Catholic practices and beliefs fall into place, so I thought I’d put this out there. If Jesus is our King and Mary is his Queen, then everything else falls into place and we have only to bow our knee to our King and his Queen.
Yes, IF only Jesus appointed Mary as Queen. But He did not.
It makes sense that kings would appoint their mother’s as queen. Wives were often exchanged as part of a military alliance. Each king would give a daughter or a niece to the king with which he was making a military alliance. This was a way for a king to make sure that he had a person in intimate contact with the king with whom he had made an aliiance, someone in his allies inner court. But for a king to make this wife into a queen was to elevate a blood relative of a potential rival to a place of great authority in his kingdom, and this was too great a risk. Kings therefor, did not appoint their wives to be queen but appointed their mother’s to the position of queen instead. That is why we see Solomon bring a throne for and pay homage to his mother Bathsheba. Bathsheba, Solomon’s Mother, is also Solomon’s Queen.
I don’t think you can compare man’s ways and God’s ways. God says, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” (Isa. 55:8).

And there are things which man simply cannot ascertain for himself. Whether Jesus appointed Mary as Queen would be beyond our capacity to know. That would take a revelation from God.
 
Yes, IF only Jesus appointed Mary as Queen. But He did not.
I don’t think you can compare man’s ways and God’s ways. God says, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” (Isa. 55:8).

And there are things which man simply cannot ascertain for himself. Whether Jesus appointed Mary as Queen would be beyond our capacity to know. That would take a revelation from God.
i guess u havent seen many threads here. This will cause Serious arguements, i advise u check d original post again he quoted scripture not priest rev 12 d woman with d crown and bringing forth a child, did u miss it? Or ignored it? Honor your parents is not just a thought of man, d word was made flesh he had a mother, did he honor her? Yes, how? As every child should both in infancy and after that. That is why solomon has a throne for his mum in his palace. Pls check d original post again. There are something i cant ascertain that is why christ founded a church with authority. --peace–.
Ubenedictus
 
don’t get me wrong i love Mary but
i don’t know about all angels and saints bowing
to her. anything about this in the CCC or ECFs,
or Tradition? i know there are paintings showing
this.

what mean by bowing…at the knee or like
an oriental bow, or what 🤷

at the name of Jesus every knee will bow (Phi 2:10)
👍 Agreed; the Blessed Virgin Mary is most devoutly and earnestly cherished, loved and honored by the Angels rightfully because of who she represents in favor before the Mystery of the Holy Trinity. Certainly; they don’t bow before her as God.
Nor would the Virgin Mary in her great unfathomable humility and love towards her Son Jesus desire such reverence. The Virgin Mary’s humble greatness remains hidden in God alone.
 
Yes, IF only Jesus appointed Mary as Queen. But He did not.
The mother of a king is automatically a queen. In antiquity, when a king could have several wives, the mother of the king was considered the primary queen of the realm.
I don’t think you can compare man’s ways and God’s ways. God says, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” (Isa. 55:8).
Jesus has both a human nature and a divine nature. All sons are to honor their mothers (as part of the Ten Commandments). Why would Christ the King not honor his mother in the manner that human kings do? So King Solomon’s mother was a queen but the mother of the King of kings is not?
And there are things which man simply cannot ascertain for himself. Whether Jesus appointed Mary as Queen would be beyond our capacity to know. That would take a revelation from God.
It is in revelation from God. Catholics and Orthodox Christians have historically taught that the queenship of Mary is an aspect of Sacred Tradition. Moreover, it is certainly at least implied (if not clearly illustrated) in the Book of Revelation’s description of Mary wearing a crown of twelve stars.

As a side note, I challenge you to quote just one Christian prior to the Protestant Reformation who objected to the idea of Mary’s queenship.
 
Mother Mary is the Queen of Heaven and earth:

My soul doth magnify the Lord.
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Because He hath regarded the humility of his handmaid;
**for behold **from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

A great book to read for those that have doubt is “True Devotion To Mary”, by St. Louis De Monfort. This is the same devotion that Pope John Paul II was known to have embraced.

Pope John Paul II was Marian… I think that I’ll try to humbly follow his example.
 
All scripture and the entirety of Christian Tradition bear witness to the fact that the Blessed Virgin Mary is Queen of Heaven and Earth.

CCC 966: Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death.

…Majestic and Heavenly Maid, Lady, Queen, protect and keep me under your wing lest Satan the sower of destruction glory over me, lest my wicked foe be victorious against me. (St. Ephrem: Idem, Oratio ad Ssmam Dei Matrem; Opera omnia, Ed. Assemani, t. III (graece), Romae, 1747, pag. 546)

But the Blessed Virgin Mary should be called Queen, not only because of her Divine Motherhood, but also because God has willed her to have an exceptional role in the work of our eternal salvation. (Ad caeli Reginam: Encyclical of Pope Pius XII on proclaiming the Queenship Of Mary, 11 October 1954)

just as . . . God, by making all through His power, is Father and Lord of all, so the blessed Mary, by repairing all through her merits, is Mother and Queen of all; for God is the Lord of all things, because by His command He establishes each of them in its own nature, and Mary is the Queen of all things, because she restores each to its original dignity through the grace which she merited. (St. Anselm: Eadmerus, De excellentia Virginis Mariae, c. 11: PL CLIX, 508 A B)

Your honor and dignity surpass the whole of creation; your greatness places you above the angels. (St. Germanus: Hom. II in dormitione Beatae Mariae Virginis: PG XCVIII, 354 B)


If Mary is Queen of Heaven and earth, then all in Heaven and on earth, with the exception of the King, are subject to her. The Queen is above all except the King.

And we too must bow to Mary our Queen, and place ourselves at her service and in her care.

-Tim-
 
I don’t think you can compare man’s ways and God’s ways. God says, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” (Isa. 55:8).

And there are things which man simply cannot ascertain for himself. Whether Jesus appointed Mary as Queen would be beyond our capacity to know. That would take a revelation from God.
The Queenship of Mary is knowable because it has been revealed by God through his Holy Scriptures. One has two choices; 1) read about the Queens of the Old Testament and the Queen in Revelation and acknowledge it, or 2) ignore scripture.

As to Isaiah 55:8, when read in the context of the surrounding veses, we can see clearly that it was specifically about God’s mercy and forgiveness. God was revealing the depth of his love and man’s incapacity for understanding such mercy and forgiveness.

Let the wicked forsake their way,
and sinners their thoughts;
Let them turn to the LORD to find mercy;
to our God, who is generous in forgiving.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways—oracle of the LORD

(Isaiah 58:7-8)


This verse is widely used when one cannot explain something or wishes to disagree with something, but it cannot be applied here because God did reveal the Queenship of Mary through the Scriptures as amply quoted and explained above.

No… Mary is a Queen, and we must acknowledge it.

-Tim-
 
Yes, IF only Jesus appointed Mary as Queen. But He did not.

And there are things which man simply cannot ascertain for himself. Whether Jesus appointed Mary as Queen would be beyond our capacity to know. That would take a revelation from God.
CAN YOU PROVE THIS STATEMENT? if so, please do!

How is it that the 5th Glorious Mystery is The Crowning of Our Lady as Queen of Heaven and Earth by the Holy Trinity?

How is it that Pope Pius XII, by his encyclical letter of October 11,1954, granted and instituted the feast of THE QUEENSHIP OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, celebrated on the 31May each year (in the old calendar) and now celebrated on August 22, previously the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary???

Here is a link to a great site for correct and comprehensive information:
catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?id=235

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
And there are things which man simply cannot ascertain for himself. Whether Jesus appointed Mary as Queen would be beyond our capacity to know. That would take a revelation from God.
You seem to imply that having an idea or knowing she’s the Queen is because of divine revelation. Say it ain’t so 😉
 
“I have not revealed these mysteries in the primitive Church, because they are so great, that the faithful would have been lost in the contemplation and admiration of them at a time when it was more necessary to establish firmly the law of grace and of the Gospel. Although all mysteries of religion are in perfect harmony with each other, yet human ignorance might have suffered recoil and doubt at their magnitude, when faith in the Incarnation and Redemption and the precepts of the new law of the Gospel were yet in their beginnings. On this same account the person of the incarnate Word said to his disciples at the last supper: “Many things have I to say to you; but you are not yet disposed to recieve them” (John 6, 12). These words He addressed to all the world, for it was not yet capable of giving full obedience to the law of grace and full assent to the faith in the Son, much less was it prepared to be introduced into the mysteries of his Mother. But now, mankind has greater need for this manifestation, and this necessity urges Me to disregard their evil disposition. And if men would now seek to please Me by reverencing, by living, and studying the wonders, which are intimately connected with this Mother of Piety, and if they would all begin to solicit her intercession from their whole heart, the world would find some relief. I will not longer withhold from men this mystical City of refuge; describe and delineate it to them, as far as thy shortcomings allow. I do not intend that thy descriptions and declarations of the life of the Blessed Virgin shall be mere opinions or contemplations, but reliable truth. They that have ears to hear, let them hear. Let those who thirst come to the living waters and leave the dried-out cisterns; let those that are seeking for the light, follow it to the end. Thus speaks the Lord God Almighty!”** (Vo1 1., The Mystical City of God: Life of the Virgin Mother of God, manifested to Sister Mary of Jesus of Agreda) **

Venerable Mary of Agreda’s Body has Remained Incorrupt for more than 340 years.
 
i guess u havent seen many threads here. This will cause Serious arguements, i advise u check d original post again he quoted scripture not priest rev 12 d woman with d crown and bringing forth a child, did u miss it? Or ignored it? …

Ubenedictus
I ignored it, yes, because it’s all speculation with no biblical support. Also, the interpretation conflicts with a CC teaching that says Mary had no pain during childbirth, citing Isaiah 66:7. But if you want to know my understanding of Rev. 12, here it is.

The book of Revelation is a prophetic book and therefore would use symbolism in most of its descriptions of future events. With that in mind, the woman in Rev. 12 is more likely used to symbolize something rather than taken in its literal sense. Now, biblically, what does a woman symbolize? In order not to go astray, we let the Bible interpret its own symbols, not use our interpretations and imaginations.

Throughout the Bible a woman often is used to signify a church (see 2 Cor. 11:2; Rev. 19:7; Eph. 5:22-27). Let’s apply it to the woman in Rev. 12. It says that this woman/church has a crown with 12 stars. Now, what do stars symbolize? Again, we go to the Bible for its interpretation. In Rev. 1:20 we see that stars symbolize angels. So, this church has 12 angels ministering to her. But why 12? Well, that’s not too difficult. There’s the OT Church with the 12 tribes of Israel and the NT Church with its 12 Apostles. In Rev. 21 we’re told this of the New Jerusalem: “…at the gates 12 angels, and names were written… the 12 tribes of the children of Israel… and the wall… had 12 foundations…in them the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb” (v.12-14). So, the symbolism fits. The woman in Rev. 12 could not be anything but the Church.

Now, why did this woman/church bring forth the Christ child? That’s simple. God’s Church started with the 12 tribes of Israel from where Jesus traces His human lineage. Listen: “This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, a prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren…” – a reference to Christ to come forth out of the children of Israel – “This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness…” (Acts 7:37-38).
 
I ignored it, yes, because it’s all speculation with no biblical support. Also, the interpretation conflicts with a CC teaching that says Mary had no pain during childbirth, citing Isaiah 66:7.
Onlyvoice,

As one who questions (and is seeking to understand) historical Church teachings which have become divisive to the Body of Christ, I appreciate your logical, Biblical stance on the queenship of Mary question.

However, I’ve also talked with Christians who I assume want only to elevate Christ, and diminish the “Mary worship” they’d seen among Catholics, and as a result have said such things as, “how can we know if Mary is in heaven?”

So, in the spirit of building unity in mind and Spirit among everyone who proclaims the death, resurrection and return of Jesus Christ, would you consider these questions:

Do you believe there is any role for Jesus’ Mother to play in eternal Biblical/Salvation history, other than gestating, birthing, feeding and raising Jesus to be a good Jew who understood the OT Scriptures?

And, any ideas why Luke writes (NIV), "41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”


*And then (NIV), “My soul exalts the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. 49 For the Mighty One has done great things for me;”
*
Does Mary deserve just a little bit more honor from us Christians? Or, does God’s Word just have all this stuff about Mary written just as a formality?

Thanks and Peace in Him!
 
The book of Revelation is a prophetic book and therefore would use symbolism in most of its descriptions of future events.
I agree, and I would add that Revelation allows for multiple layers of valid interpretation. For example, a particular passage can provide a teaching from a literal view, and provide another teaching from a symbolic one. It is possible for both teachings to be simultaneously valid, so long as they do not contradict one another.
With that in mind, the woman in Rev. 12 is more likely used to symbolize something rather than taken in its literal sense. Now, biblically, what does a woman symbolize? In order not to go astray, we let the Bible interpret its own symbols, not use our interpretations and imaginations…
The woman depicted in Rev. 12 can represent both an individual person as well as the Church. You have provided a biblical stance for the latter (which, I might add, is an acceptable one within Catholic Scripture study) so I will now provide a biblical stance for the former.

In Rev. 12 there are four key figures:

1) A woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. (Rev. 12:1, RSV)

2) A great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems upon his heads. (Rev. 12:3, RSV)

3) A male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. (Rev. 12:5, RSV)

4) Michael. (Rev. 12:7, RSV)

So we have a woman, child, dragon and Michael. Let us examine how they are treated as persons in the Book of Revelation.

Michael
Michael the Archangel is clearly treated in Revelation as a person, as is the case when he comes up elsewhere in the Bible.

The Dragon
Does Revelation treat the dragon as a specific person? Yes, he is Satan:
And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. (Rev. 12:9, RSV)

The Child
Does Revelation treat the child as a specific person? Yes, he is Christ:
And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, followed him on white horses. From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which to smite the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. (Rev. 19:14-15, RSV) (Note the iron rod reference in 12:5)

So Revelation is clear that the figures of the child, Michael and the dragon are individual persons. Once again, when I say this I am not ruling out the possibility of there also being acceptable symbolic interpretations, I’m only saying that Rev. 12 does, indeed, allow for a literal interpretation from a biblical standpoint.

Moreover, it is worth pointing out both the child and the dragon are described with symbolic imagery (i.e., the dragon seven diadems, the child is destined to have a rod of iron, etc.). So symbolic imagery in Revelation associated with a figure does not necessarily indicate that the figure is not supposed to be considered from a literal viewpoint.

Based upon all this, it is perfectly valid to likewise interpret the woman to be an individual person. Because the child she gives birth to is specifically identified as Christ, the only possible identity we can ascribe to her (when in keeping with this particular type of literal interpretation) is Mary.
The woman in Rev. 12 could not be anything but the Church.
You may not decide to interpret the woman of Rev. 12 as Mary, but based on what I just outlined, you cannot say that an interpretation of this woman as Mary is invalid. In short, the information you provided simply shows that seeing the woman as a symbol of the Church is yet another valid interpretation, but your information does not allow for the conclusion that “the woman in Rev. 12 could not be anything but the Church.”

You pointed out that the woman is described in Rev. 12 with symbolic imagery. But so is the child and the dragon, and yet they still represent specific people. The dragon can be validly seen as a symbol for the forces of evil in the world, and also literally seen as Satan. The woman can be validly seen as representing the Church, and Mary, and the Jewish lineage of the Messiah. As I said before, there can be multiple levels of valid interpretation.

Furthermore, it makes no sense for one to admit that three of the four figures of Rev. 12 refer to specific people (as the full text of Revelation compels us to do) but then say that the figure of the woman cannot be a specific person.

So I agree that you presented a valid interpretation of the woman of Rev. 12, but that does not make it the only valid interpretation. If I see the imagery of Rev. 12 as supporting the queenship of Mary then my interpretation is just as valid, and has just as much biblical support, as yours.
 
I ignored it, yes, because it’s all speculation with no biblical support. Also, the interpretation conflicts with a CC teaching that says Mary had no pain during childbirth, citing Isaiah 66:7. But if you want to know my understanding of Rev. 12, here it is.

The book of Revelation is a prophetic book and therefore would use symbolism in most of its descriptions of future events. With that in mind, the woman in Rev. 12 is more likely used to symbolize something rather than taken in its literal sense. Now, biblically, what does a woman symbolize? In order not to go astray, we let the Bible interpret its own symbols, not use our interpretations and imaginations.

Throughout the Bible a woman often is used to signify a church (see 2 Cor. 11:2; Rev. 19:7; Eph. 5:22-27). Let’s apply it to the woman in Rev. 12. It says that this woman/church has a crown with 12 stars. Now, what do stars symbolize? Again, we go to the Bible for its interpretation. In Rev. 1:20 we see that stars symbolize angels. So, this church has 12 angels ministering to her. But why 12? Well, that’s not too difficult. There’s the OT Church with the 12 tribes of Israel and the NT Church with its 12 Apostles. In Rev. 21 we’re told this of the New Jerusalem: “…at the gates 12 angels, and names were written… the 12 tribes of the children of Israel… and the wall… had 12 foundations…in them the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb” (v.12-14). So, the symbolism fits. The woman in Rev. 12 could not be anything but the Church.

Now, why did this woman/church bring forth the Christ child? That’s simple. God’s Church started with the 12 tribes of Israel from where Jesus traces His human lineage. Listen: “This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, a prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren…” – a reference to Christ to come forth out of the children of Israel – “This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness…” (Acts 7:37-38).
The Bible was written without chapter and verse division. Chapter and verse divisions were added to the Bible in the middle ages.

Revelation 11 ends with John seeing the Ark of the Covenant in God’s temple in heaven and then goes on in Revelation 12 to describe the woman. The view of Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant is widespread in Christianity, and so the woman is clearly Mary. Mary was always seen as an image of the Church and so it is not incorrect to see thye woman literally as Mary as well as to see the woman as an image of the Church.

Even if you exclude Revelation altogether, that still leaves the rest of the Bible, and the historically proven practice of Jewish Kings appointing their mother’s as queen cannot be ignored.

We can squirm, twist, gyrate, and contort the scriptures to try to get them not to say what they say, and we can struggle with our own entrenched beliefs, but at the end of the day Jesus is King, and his Mother is Queen. We either accept it or ignore it, but we cannot change it.

-Tim-
 
Thanks for posting that youtube link. It got me looking at lots on Pope Benedict XVI etc etc.
Hope you like this prayer as much as I do, just came across it today thanks to wheels10 on our Devotion to the Sorrows group

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

**MARIAN PRAYERS OF SAINT LOUIS DE MONTFORT (A.D. 1673-1716) **

O Mary, my Queen,
I cast myself in the arms of Your mercy.
I place my soul and body
in Your blessed care
and under Your special protection
from this world.
I entrust to You all my hopes and consolations,
all my anguish and misery,
my life and the end of my life.
Through Your most holy intercession
and through Your merits,
grant that all my works may be directed and carried out
in accord with Your will
and the will of Your Divine Son.

Amen.
 
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