THE FEAST OF THE QUEENSHIP OF MARY.
THE FEAST OF THE QUEENSHIP OF MARY.
"The Invited Guests refused to come.
"Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables, saying,
“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.
"He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come.
"A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’
"Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.
"The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
"Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’
"The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests.
"But when the king came in to meet the guests, he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. The king said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’
"But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Many are invited, but few are chosen.]” (Matthew 22: 1 - 14).
Thursday 22nd August 2024 in the 20th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of the Queenship of Mary. (Octave of the Solemnity of the Assumption).
Why the Feast of the Queenship of Mary?
#1. The Father gave us the Mother of His Son Jesus to be our Mother from the Cross. (Cf the Collect of this Feast).
#2. Mary is the Mother of Christ the King and therefore the Queen Mother. (Bathsheba the mother of Solomon was recognized as Queen mother).
#3. In the Church's liturgical prayers from ancient times, Mary has been hailed as Hail holy Queen, Queen of Peace, Queen of Martyrs, Queen of all Saints, etc. (See the Litany of Loretto). The Church applies here the ancient maxim: Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi. This means that the Law of Prayer becomes the Law of Faith. Whatever the Church prays in her Liturgy is automatically the faith of the Church. Whatever is bound on earth by its prayer becomes bound in heaven.
#4. The 5th Glorious Mystery of the Holy Rosary celebrates the Coronation of Mary as Queen of heaven and earth. The fruit of this mystery is to grow in faith in the powerful intercession of Mary. In order words, Jesus Christ our Lord and King crowned His Mother Queen so that we can approach her with confidence with all our needs.
The world today is desperately in need of the mercy of God and the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is the main reason for the Marian apparitions in Fatima, Lourdes, Knock in Ireland, etc. Mary encourages Christians to pray especially the Holy Rosary.
Today's Parable of the King's Invited Guests who spurned his invitation and turned murderous is one of the saddest in the Gospel.
This Parable may be seen as an allegory of how Jesus is spurned and insulted in the Most Holy Eucharist. Jesus says in every Mass just before we receive Him in Holy Communion: "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE INVITED TO THE SUPPER OF THE LORD."
Unlike the Parable in today's Gospel, some of the invited guests in the Eucharist come. They do not honor their Host by the way they dress. The wedding garments may be regarded in this context by knowledge of the Host (King), dignity of the occasion (Marriage feast of the Lamb). They do not recognize the presence of the Host. They lack the respectful manners required in such a gathering. They dress in such a way to show their disrespect. They dress perhaps too casually. Shorts and t-shirts.
Could they dare to dress the way they do as guests of a house party by the mayor, governor or even their boss?
Wake up Christians. Do not make your King angry lest He orders:
"Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth."
August is the Month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Mary says: "In the end. My Immaculate Heart will triumph."
"St. Bernard asks, Why does the Church name Mary Queen of Mercy? and answers, Because we believe that she opens the depths of the mercy of God, to whom she will, when she will, and as she will; so that not even the vilest sinner is lost, if Mary protects him."
For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:
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