Pope Pius closed a year-long Marian year in October of 1954 with the encyclical Ad Caeli Reginam recognizing the Queenship of Mary. The encyclical was unique too because it was the first time a pope had spoken on Mary's role in sharing in the work of Redemption. He wrote, "The most Blessed Virgin Mary is to be called Queen not only because of her Divine Motherhood, but also because she, by the will of God, had an outstanding part in the work of our eternal salvation."
Without saying Mary was a "co-redemptress," Pope Pius XII taught that she was associated with Christ "in a way parallel to the way in which Eve was associated with Adam....So just as the human raced was committed to death through a virgin, it is saved by means of a virgin."
The feast day to celebrate the Queenship of Mary is August 22, following by a week the Feast of the Assumption. September 8 will mark the birth of Mary.
As assignments to mark the day with your students, you may wish to have them create an image using the art medium of their choice of Mary as Queen. Also, assign the entire enyclical for reading. Have the students create a graphic organizer to outline its main points. Finally, pray this prayer as a class.
The Queenship of Mary
Mary, Queen of the Universe,
you are a Queen in that you are
the Mother of the Word Incarnate.
Christ is universal King in that he rules all his creatures
by his personal union with the Father and the Spirit.
He is King and you are Queen of all hearts.
Rule over us by the queenly power of your love
that the Kingdom of your Son—
the Kingdom of truth and life,
holiness and grace,
justice, love, and peace—
may come upon the earth.
Grant your grace to all people,
the Holy Spirit for the whole Church,
and peace for the entire earth.
Amen.
