psburns@lims02.lerc.nasa.gov (MAUREEN BURNS) (01/03/91)
Clarify something for me... Where are the scriptural references that support such titles for Mary as "Queen of Heaven" or "Queen of the Saints"? No doubt that she was blessed among women, but this elevation of status indicated by these royal titles just puzzles me. Maureen [Lk. 1:42 could be taken as supporting at least some special role for Mary, though perhaps that's stretching things. But please remember that Catholics do not consider the BIble the only source of Christian truth. They will challenge you just as much about why you *don't* accept the traditions of the Church on this subject. --clh]
cms@gatech.edu (01/07/91)
In article <Jan.3.03.55.05.1991.14123@athos.rutgers.edu>, psburns@lims02.lerc.nasa.gov (MAUREEN BURNS) writes: > Clarify something for me... > Where are the scriptural references that support such titles for Mary as > "Queen of Heaven" or "Queen of the Saints"? No doubt that she was blessed > among women, but this elevation of status indicated by these royal titles > just puzzles me. > Maureen > > [Lk. 1:42 could be taken as supporting at least some special role for > Mary, though perhaps that's stretching things. But please remember > that Catholics do not consider the BIble the only source of Christian > truth. They will challenge you just as much about why you *don't* > accept the traditions of the Church on this subject. --clh] Lk 1:48 also. Indeed, the whole Magnificat. For Queen of Heaven, specifically, though, see Revelation 12 and the whole story about how the woman gave birth to the Messiah. Protestants and Catholics agree that the woman is a reference to Israel who gives birth to the Messiah. Since Mary is the mother of the Messiah, Catholics believe it seems natural to associate Mary with Israel, but for some reason Protestants disagree. At any rate, this passage also supports the Assumption. Various Pauline passages, besides James, speak of the faithful receiving from God the crown of life. The Fifth Glorious Mystery of the Dominican Rosary (7th Joyful Franciscan) emphasizes Mary's Crowning, although the full name of the Mystery is "The Crowning of All Saint including the Blessed Virgin Mary" or some variation thereof. Calling Mary "Queen of Heaven and Earth" is therefore a reference to Mary's subordinate position as first of all the saints. Keep in mind that this metaphor was in usage long before queens typically had power in their own right. The medieval image is one of a queen who receives all of her power from the King and has no more power than that. Why is she first? Mary was the first person to give birth to the Messiah but not the last. As a baptized Christian, I too have given birth to the Messiah in the power of the Holy Spirit. We are called to imitate Mary's example and work with the Spirit who has given birth to Christ within us. This image primarily comes from the Gospel of John and Johannine epistles, although Paul also speaks more vaguely of having died to Christ and now living for Christ. At any rate, it isn't the intent of the Church to equate Mary's queenship with the Kingship of God; it's simply a metaphor. -- Sincerely, Cindy Smith _///_ // SPAWN OF A JEWISH _///_ // _///_ // <`)= _<< CARPENTER _///_ //<`)= _<< <`)= _<< _///_ // \\\ \\ \\ _\\\_ <`)= _<< \\\ \\ \\\ \\ <`)= _<< >IXOYE=('> \\\ \\ \\\ \\_///_ // // /// _///_ // _///_ // emory!dragon!cms <`)= _<< _///_ // <`)= _<< <`)= _<< \\\ \\<`)= _<< \\\ \\ \\\ \\ GO AGAINST THE FLOW! \\\ \\ A Real Live Catholic in Georgia Although not a Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's court, I am: A Real Live Southern Catholic in the Anglican Communion.