CONGREGATION OF MARY QUEEN - AMERICAN REGION
Dòng Trinh Vương - Chi Dòng Hoa Kỳ
Regina Mundi -
Queen of the World
Mary’s queenship is rooted in Scripture. At the Annunciation, Gabriel declared Jesus would receive the throne of David and rule forever. At the Visitation, Elizabeth called Mary “mother of my Lord.” At the cross with his mother standing beside Him, Jesus conquered sin and death. All the mysteries of Mary’s life are intertwined with Jesus, her Son. Her queenship is a share in Jesus’ kingship.
Immaculate Conception:
December 08
Nativity:
September 08
Assumption:
August 15
Coronation*:
August 22
*The day of Mary's coronation is when she receives her title as Queen.
It is no surprise then, that Mary as Queen is one of her many titles. This beloved title can also be traced back to the early Church. In the 4th century, St. Ephrem the Syrian invoked Mary as "Majestic and Heavenly Maid, Lady, Queen, protect and keep me under your wing" (Ad Caeli Reginam, 10). Other church fathers such as Origen, St. John of Damascus, and St. Jerome refer to her as "Lady," "Ruler," "Queen."
(We highly recommend reading Ad Caeli Reginam for in-depth discussion on her title Mary, Queen throughout history. Click link here.)
Why Mary, Queen?
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Pope Pius XII, in 1954 through the encyclical, Ad Caeli Reginam, formally proclaimed Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth. She holds this royal title principally due to her Divine Motherhood, but also because of her unique role in assisting in our redemption (34, 37).
In regards to her Divine Motherhood, Pope Pius XII quotes St. Alphonsus Ligouri, "Because the virgin Mary was raised to such a lofty dignity as to be the mother of the King of kings, it is deservedly and by every right that the Church has honored her with the title of 'Queen'" (25).
In regards to Mary's assistance in our salvation, Pope Pius XII quotes St. Anselm, "just as Christ, because He redeemed us, is our Lord and king by a special title, so the Blessed Virgin also (is our queen), on account of the unique manner in which she assisted in our redemption, by giving of her own substance, by freely offering Him for us, by her singular desire and petition for, and active interest in, our salvation" (37).
When is the Queenship of Mary?
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1954 was celebrated as the Year of Mary. At its conclusion, Pope Pius XII instituted the feast of the Queenship of Mary on May 31st in the encyclical, Ad Caeli Reginam.
In 1969, St. Pope Paul VI moved the feast of the Queenship of Mary to August 22, seven days after the Assumption of Mary. This was part of the reforms of the liturgical calendar.
How is Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen-Mother, of the CMR Congregation?
Our CMR religious family owes its current name to our co-founder, Father Bernard Hoàn Khải Bùi, who petitioned the Holy See in 1966 to change our name to the Congregation of Missionary Sisters of Mary, Queen of the World. He had the inspiration to place the Blessed Virgin Mary as Mother Superior of the entire congregation.
With the congregation's new name, our spirituality took on a Marian character based on St. Louis de Montfort's teaching of consecration to Jesus through Mary.
It is no small coincidence that the congregation's spirituality is the Evangelical Childhood. For the heart of consecration to Jesus through Mary is the renewal of the baptismal promises, "to renounce Satan, and all his works and empty promises," and to live as a child of the Heavenly Father and a child of Mother Mary.
Jesus is both the perfect child of the Father and of his Mother Mary.
Mary is both the perfect child of the Father and the Mother of Jesus.
Consequently, Mary as our Queen and Mother, is in a unique and special position to show us how to be a child, "for whoever does not turn and become like children will not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 18:3). She teaches us obedience to the Father through her "Fiat" and unwavering trust in the mission of her Son, "Do whatever He tells you" (Jn 2:5).
Our Congregation has traditional practices that expresses our childlike devotion to Mary, our Queen , Mother, and Superior.
During the preparation prior to the novitiate entrance, a postulant is introduced to St. Louis Grignion de Montfort's on Total Consecration to Mary, a 33-day program of prayers, reflections, and readings. On the day of the clothing ceremony, to mark the beginning of her novitiate period, she consecrates herself to Mary using St. Louis Montfort's form. We renew this Marian consecration together every Saturday.
August 22nd is the liturgical feast of the Queenship of Mary and our titular feast day. We prepare for this solemn celebration with a novena of prayers, hymns, and Eucharistic Exposition.
We begin each day, in song, with the Hail Mary and end each day with the Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen). Morning prayer also includes an extended prayer that offers up the Congregation and reminds us of the Marian virtues of humility, obedience, and fraternal charity. The Rosary and Angelus are prayed daily as we meditate upon the mysteries of Jesus' life.
In liturgical celebrations, when possible, we elevate all Marian feast days to the more commemorative spirit. In daily prayers we come to her as our Queen and Mother. We invoke her intercession, look upon her as our model, and lean upon her as our refuge.