Homily for Votive Mass - Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen and Mother of Mercy

 

Ep 2:4-10

Ps 103:1-6, 8, 13, 17

Lk 1:39-55 

Christ the King Catholic Church, Iowa Park, TX

 

This morning we celebrate the votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Queen and Mother of Mercy. This formulary combines two titles frequently attributed to Our Blessed Mother, both of which speak to her boundless graciousness and love she has for the faithful who follow her Son: namely, Queen of Mercy and Mother of Mercy. We likely are already familiar with the title because we conclude our rosary praying ‘Salve Regina, Mater Misericordiae, or Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy…’

The first title we give her ‘Queen of Mercy’ speaks to the kindness, generosity, and dignity Mary holds as Queen of Heaven and earth. Recalling Queen Esther in the Old Testament who fervently prayed to God to save her captive people from the evils of Haman in the Persian court, Mary forever sits at the right hand of her Divine Son, Jesus Christ and never ceases to pray to Him on behalf of us who are her dear children. The Blessed Virgin Mary prays for our salvation as we fly to her in the midst of the trials and dangers of life. The King of Glory, our Risen Lord listens compassionately to the appeals of His mother for mercy on his people. At Christ’s urging, Mary stretches out her loving arms to embrace all her children who seek refuge in her. As Jesus gave us to Mary on the Cross, likewise does Mary take us to Jesus. From her throne in Heaven, Mary points out to her Son all the needs of the faithful on earth, just as she interceded for the bride and groom at Cana.

The title ‘Mother of Mercy’ is believed to have been first given to Our Lady by St. Odo, the Abbot of Cluny in France in the mid-10^th century. This is a fitting title for her because she brought forth, by the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ who is the visible manifestation of the infinite mercy of the invisible God. Further, she is the spiritual mother of all the faithful, full of grace and mercy. In our Gospel reading, we heard the beautiful canticle raised by Mary, the Magnificat (My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord…). In this canticle praising God, she twice praises His Divine Mercy: “He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation; He has come to the help of his servant Israel, for he has remembered his promise of mercy.” For all clergy and consecrated religious, and likewise for the laity who pray the Liturgy of the Hours, the Magnificat is sung or proclaimed at the end every day at Vespers/Evening prayer. In company with Mary, we raise our voices to praise God’s mercy.

Mary is our Queen and Mother. Under her gentle guidance, we will be led to the fount of Divine Mercy, the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Let us place ourselves under the care of our Blessed Mother who sits at the right hand of our Savior. Let us fly to her arms and allow her to embrace us and bring us more deeply into the heart of Jesus Christ.

Salve Regina, Mater Misericordiae, Ora Pro Nobis!