The Immaculate Queen

Photo Credit: Fr. Lawrence, O.P.

In our community, August 22 tends to be one of our favorite days of the liturgical year. For on this day, Holy Mother Church celebrates two great Marian feasts. 

In the Novus Ordo (Ordinary Form calendar), the Church celebrates the Queenship of Blessed Virgin Mary - when, a week after celebrating her Assumption, we celebrate Our Lady being crowned Queen of heaven and earth.  In the ​Usus Antiquior (Extraordinary Form), the Church celebrates the Immaculate Heart of Mary - calling to mind one of the reasons she was assumed into heaven: her purity of heart, untainted by original sin. ​

With resounding joy, with rejoice with Holy Church in giving thanks to the all Holy Trinity, for giving us so good, so pure a Mother who sits at the right hand of God in heaven constantly interceding for us, her beloved children. 

Queen of Heaven rejoice, for thou art pure of heart!

"Mary began her journey along the road to perfection at a height to which other Saints arrived only at the end of a long life of saintliness. In all other children of Adam, original sin prevented the divine generosity from having a free course. But Mary was created without check or hindrance. Her sinlessness, her heavenly purity, directed every action, every movement to God. her Heart was the pattern and model of all virtues, of all purity! 'Blessed are the pure of heart!'" - The Roman Missal 1962 on the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary