As we celebrate the Queenship of Mary, Fr Paul Gooley reads from the Gospel of Matthew (22: 1-14) in which Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a king who gave a feast for his son’s wedding, saying, ‘Many are invited, but few are chosen’.

Fr Paul says the doctrine of the Assumption, was promulgated in 1951, and we had its feast last week on the 15 August. As was normal for the greater feasts, this celebration went for a week afterwards, and today’s memorial of Our Lady, Mother and Queen, marks the conclusion of that period of celebration.

Today we remember that the Blessed Virgin reigns in heaven together with her Son. She reigns not because she is in any way equal to God but because she is the mother of Christ the King. Her privileges come from her willingly agreeing to become the Mother of God and make our redemption possible.

And so today, Fr Paul invites us to pray:

Hail, Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.