Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Matthew (23: 13-22) in which Jesus says, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who shut up the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. Neither going in yourselves nor allowing others to go in who want to.” After reading the Gospel Fr Paul shares a little about the memorial of the Queenship of Mary, which we celebrate today. Fr Paul says the doctrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was promulgated in 1951, and with its feast celebrated on 15 August, a week ago today, it was normal for the greater feasts of the Church that the celebration went on for a week afterwards. Today’s memorial of Our Lady, Mother and Queen, marks the conclusion of that period of celebration.  Fr Paul says, 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 making our redemption possible.
Fr Paul says today we ask Mary, Mother and Queen… pray for us!