Queen of the Universe, Queen of My Heart
Queen of the Universe
On the last day of the month of May it is customary in many cultures, communities and families to honor Our Blessed Mother through May Crowning, a rite during which a crown of flowers are placed upon a statue or image of Mary. The rite may also consist of hymns, prayers, and an act of consecration to Our Lady and is often done at school, parishes or at home. To crown someone is to show them honor and respect, to give them special deference, and is tied to royalty. Her Son is Christ Our King and therefore Mary is crowned Queen of the Universe and as the Mother of God which puts her above any earthly title.
The U.S. bishops state: The queen symbol was attributed to Mary because she was a perfect follower of Christ, who is the absolute “crown” of creation. She is the Mother of the Son of God, who is the messianic King. Mary is the Mother of Christ, the Word Incarnate… “he will be great and will be called Son of the Most High; the Lord will give him the throne of his father David; and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Lk 1:32-33). Elizabeth greeted the Blessed Virgin, pregnant with Jesus, as “the mother of my Lord” (Lk 1:41-43). Mary is the perfect follower of Christ. The maid of Nazareth consented to God’s plan; she journeyed on the pilgrimage of faith; she listened to God’s Word and kept it in her heart; she remained steadfastly in close union with her Son, all the way to the foot of the Cross; she persevered in prayer with the Church. Thus, in an eminent way she won the “crown of righteousness” (2 Tim 4:8), the “crown of life” (Jas 1:12; Rev 2:10), the “crown of glory” (1 Pet 5:4) that is promised to those who follow Christ. (“Order of Crowning,” NCCB, 1987)
Queen of my Heart
May Crowning is such a beautiful way to honor Mary who is our Mother too. As we hail her Queen of the Universe, let us also profess her as Queen of our hearts, our lives, and our families. She is our greatest example and heroine, our strongest advocate and teacher. If we consecrate ourselves to her she will guide us and care for us just as she did for Jesus. She is not a stranger to our humanness. She knows what it feels like to worry, to weep, to laugh, to love, to hope…if we but entrust ourselves to her, she will guide to Her Son and our everlasting Home.
The Queen of the Universe necklace is a gorgeous, classic, and elegant piece that brilliantly proclaims that this powerful and merciful Queen of the Universe is also the Queen of our hearts.
Consecration Prayer to Mary
-St. Maximilian Kolbe
O Immaculate, Queen of Heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to you. I, (name), a repentant sinner, cast myself at your feet, humbly imploring you to take me with all that I am and have, wholly to yourself as your possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases you.
If it pleases you, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of you: “She will crush your head,” and “You alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world. ” Let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing your glory to the maximum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever you enter, you obtain the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through your hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
V. Allow me to praise you, O sacred Virgin
R. Give me strength against your enemies
