Queen of the Universe

From the very first centuries, Christians look to Mary as Queen. They want to place her above all creatures, exalting her role and importance in the life of every person and of the whole world.

Mary is Queen not only because she is Mother of God, but also because, she co-operated in the work of the redemption of the human race. Taken up into heaven, Mary is associated with the power of her Son and is dedicated to the extension of the Kingdom, sharing in the diffusion of divine grace in the world. In looking at the analogy between Christ’s Ascension and Mary’s Assumption, we can conclude that Mary, in dependence on Christ, is the Queen who possesses and exercises over the universe a sovereignty granted to her by her Son.

The title of Queen does not of course replace that of Mother: her queenship remains a corollary of her particular maternal mission and simply expresses the power conferred on her to carry out that mission. Having a motherly affection for us and being concerned for our salvation, she extends her care to the whole human race. Therefore Christians look with trust to Mary Queen and this not only does not diminish but indeed exalts their filial abandonment to her, who is mother in the order of grace.

The Assumption favors Mary’s full communion not only with Christ, but with each one of us: she is beside us, because her glorious state enables her to follow us in our daily earthly journey. Taken up into heavenly glory, Mary dedicates herself totally to the work of salvation in order to communicate to every living person the happiness granted to her.

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POPE JOHN PAUL II

GENERAL AUDIENCE, Wednesday, 23 July 1997 (excerpts)