-  Feast of Mary, Queen and Mother,

In recent years, a great deal of attention has centred on royalty. Many countries have abandoned the monarchy as a form of government. Other countries, having chosen to retain their royal families, have given great thought as to how to make them relevant and useful in to-day's world. Recently, it was revealed that in England serious discussions are to being undertaken to ensure that the monarchy will still have a role to play in the 21st century. Then, too, there is publicity being given to preparing Mary, our Australian princess to be Queen of Denmark.

There is one Royal, however, whose position remains unchallenged - Mary, Queen and Mother of the Church. On 22nd August, one week after the Feast of the Assumption, the Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady, Queen and Mother. Part of the reading from the divine Office for that day is -"Because of the honour due to her Son, it was fitting indeed that the virgin Mother should first rule upon earth and, afterwards, be received into the heavenly sanctuary in the fullness of holiness, transformed from brightness to brightness by the Lord who is Spirit". Elsewhere, in the same official prayer of the Church we read -" At your right hand, Lord, stands the Queen, her robes adorned with gold, and on her head a crown of twelve stars".

Point 1: Between a Queen and those who draw on her leadership, there is always a common bond. Our bond with Mary and the Apostles is Jesus. With them we are united in a common bond of love for Jesus. Springing from this love, there is the common desire to make our Divine Lord known and loved. After the Ascension, Mary and the Apostles had one ambition - to make Jesus known, loved and imitated by as many people as they could influence. The took seriously Jesus' command - "Go and teach all nations whatever I have commanded you". It became the driving force behind all their thinking, planning, and hoping. There can be no doubt that Mary, because of her deep knowledge of Christ, would have been deeply involved in their efforts. She would have been there advising, comforting and inspiring them through her own love of her Son.

Point 2: In the broad sense, every Christian is, or should be, an apostle having the same desire as Mary and the Apostles to make Jesus known and accepted. We need to remember that few of us will go to heaven alone, just as, should we fail to earn salvation, we will not fail alone. We will take others with us! In this matter there is no doubt, and there is no room for neutrality. Either we work with God, or we work against Him. We all know that example is contagious - good example has its effect on those with whom we live, just as bad example does. It is almost impossible to inspire others with a knowledge and love of Christ if we do not have a thorough knowledge of Christ and His teaching. Knowledge enables us to explain our motives; ignorance raises doubts and causes arguments and divisions. We know, of course, that God's grace must also be present - knowledge alone is not sufficient. At the same time the way we deal with sorrow, with sickness, with bereavement, with sacrifice and, too, with success, all tell people something about us as disciples of Christ and servants of Mary. Drawing on the example of Mary and the Apostles can certainly lift us and help us to deal with these difficulties that challenge us. Both of them had been seriously challenged to the very depths of their souls. But they used those challenges as stepping stones to make known the power of Christ in their lives.

Conclusion: In the Litany of Loreto, we salute Mary as "Queen" at least twelve times. Let us acknowledge that, as with any true Queen, there must exist a close bond between the "Queen of Heaven" and those who share her deep love for her Son Jesus.

That is why, to-day, we join with the universal Church to honour Mary, Mother and Queen, using the words taken from the Divine Office for the Feast - "Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, because you believed all the things which were told you by the Lord; you will reign for ever with Christ"..."Grant, that supported by your prayers, we may come to the kingdom of heaven and to the glory destined for your children" . Amen