accepted so that with the Ad Caeli Reginam, of October 11, 1954, Pius XII instituted the feast of the Queenship of Mary.[2]

2 Basic teachings

According to Catholic teaching Mary should be called Queen, not only because of her divine motherhood of Je- sus Christ, but also because God has willed her to have an exceptional role in the work of salvation. Mary was cho- sen as Mother of Christ in order that she might become a partner in the redemption of the human race: “As Christ, the new Adam must be called a King not merely because He is Son of God, but also because He is our Redeemer, so, analogously, the Most Blessed Virgin is queen not only because she is Mother of God, but also because, as the new Eve, she was associated with the new Adam.”[3]

3 Context

The Church has always taught that Mary is far above all other creatures in dignity, and after her Son possesses pri- macy over all. Germanus of Constantinople says: “Your honor and dignity surpass the whole of creation; your Botticelli, the greatness places you above the angels.” And St. John Damascene goes so far as to say: “Limitless is the dif- Ad Caeli Reginam is an encyclical of Pope Pius XII, ference between God’s servants and His Mother.” [4] given at , from St. Peter’s Basilica, on the feast of Pius XII quotes his predecessors: Pope Pius IX, “With a the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the eleventh heart that is truly a mother’s,” does she approach the prob- day of October, 1954, in the sixteenth year of his Pon- lem of our salvation, and is solicitous for the whole hu- tificate. The encyclical is an important element of the man race; made and earth by the Lord, of Pope Pius XII. It established the feast exalted above all choirs of angels and saints, and standing Queenship of Mary. at the right hand of her only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, she intercedes powerfully for us with a mother’s prayers, obtains what she seeks, and cannot be refused.” Leo XIII, 1 History said that an “almost immeasurable” power has been given Mary in the distribution of graces; St. Pius X adds that [5] The title “Queen of Heaven” is given to Mary based pri- she fills this office “as by the right of a mother.” Pius marily on her role as Mother of Jesus Christ. It is found XII admonishes theologians and preachers from straying from the correct course, avoiding two extremes, Marian in the (Hail, Holy Queen...) and [6] popular piety (Litany of Loreto). The title of “Queen” exaggerations and excessive narrowness of mind. is frequently found in Benedictine monasticism. Its use The points to some countries of the world, underwent a notable development in the Cistercian re- where people are unjustly persecuted for their Christian form movement and in the orders of evangelical apostolic faith and who are deprived of their divine and human life that arose from the beginning of the twelfth century rights to freedom. Reasonable demands and repeated onwards.[1] Over time this title of Mary became generally protests have not helped them. “May the powerful Queen

1 2 7 REFERENCES

6 Sources

• Pope Pius XII, Mariological encyclicals and bulls:

• • Ad Caeli Reginam • • • Le Pelerinage de Lourdes • • Munificentissimus Deus

• . (AAS), Vatican City 1939- 1958. Official documents of the Pontificate of Pope Pius XII

7 References

[1] Servants of the Magnificat: The Canticle of the Blessed Virgin and Consecrated Life, Order of Servants of Mary, 1996

[2] “Why do we call Mary Queen?", The Marian Library, University of Dayton

A rare picture of crowned for the Marian [3] Pope Pius XII, Ad Caeli Reginam §38, October 11, 1954, year 1954 by Pope Pius XII Vatican [4] Ad caeli regnam §40

of creation, whose radiant glance banishes storms and [5] Ad caeli reginam §42 tempests and brings back cloudless skies, look upon these her innocent and tormented children with eyes of mercy” [6] Ad caeli reginam §44 [7] [7] Ad caeli reginam §50

[8] Ad caeli reginam §1 4 Quote

From the earliest ages of the a Christian people, whether in time of triumph or more especially in time of crisis, has ad- dressed prayers of petition and hymns of praise and veneration to the Queen of Heaven. And never has that hope wavered which they placed in the Mother of the Divine King, Jesus Christ; nor has that faith ever failed by which we are taught that Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, reigns with a mother’s solicitude over the en- tire world, just as she is crowned in heavenly blessedness with the glory of a Queen.[8]

5 See also

• Marian papal encyclicals and Apostolic Letters

• 3

8 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

8.1 Text

• Ad Caeli Reginam Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_Caeli_Reginam?oldid=720123219 Contributors: BD2412, FlaBot, Smack- Bot, Colonies Chris, Thijs!bot, The Transhumanist, CommonsDelinker, Thaurisil, Johnbod, Davehi1, VanishedUserABC, StAnselm, Alexbot, Ambrosius007, Alexius08, Addbot, Sladovnik, AnomieBOT, EmausBot, Willthacheerleader18, Susumebashi, Mannanan51, BG19bot, Dobie80, Mogism and Michipedian

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• File:046CupolaSPietro.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/046CupolaSPietro.jpg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: MarkusMark • File:Botticelli,_incoronazione_della_vergine.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/16/ Botticelli%2C_incoronazione_della_vergine.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: Web Gallery of Art: Image Info about artwork Original artist: Sandro Botticelli • File:Coat_of_arms_of_the_Holy_See.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Coat_of_arms_Holy_See. svg License: Public domain Contributors: • Bruno Bernhard Heim, Heraldry in the Catholic Church: Its Origin, Customs and Laws (Van Duren 1978 ISBN 9780391008731), p. 54; Original artist: F l a n k e r • File:Emblem_of_the_Papacy_SE.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Emblem_of_the_Papacy_SE. svg License: Public domain Contributors: • File:Coat of arms Holy See.svg Original artist: Cronholm144 created this image using a file by User:Hautala - File:Emblem of Vatican City State.svg, who had created his file using PD art from Open Clip Art Library and uploaded on 13 July 2006. User talk:F l a n k e r uploaded this version on 19 January 2007. • File:Madonna_of_the_Magnificat.png Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Madonna_of_the_Magnificat. png License: Public domain Contributors: Own work Original artist: Livioandronico2013 • File:Pius_12_coa.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Pius_12_coa.svg License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 Con- tributors: Own work Original artist: User:mAgul • File:SalusPopuliromanicrowned.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/SalusPopuliromanicrowned.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: Original artist: Ambrosius007 (talk)

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