Queenship of Mary

Today is the birthday of Symphorian. Today, typhoon signals number 8 was hoisted at around 7:40 a.m. and number 9 at 1:15p.m. Poor Symphorian, there was no celebration for him, no birthday cake and no going out to buy birthday gifts. We could only stay home, watching TV, napping in the afternoon, working with the computer etc. He must have been bored to death. Luckily, after dinner, Saturnia called from Kyoto, telling him that she had bought him a present for his birthday from Japan. His face brightened. Perhaps he could write 'My Most Memorable Birthday' with all these trivialities.
Today, the Catholic Church celebrates the Queenship of Mary. The Catholic Church has a long tradition of venerating the Blessed Virgin Mary. Because of her close relationship with our Saviour, who is the King of kings, many Church Fathers in the first few centuries of church history, when persecutions were rampant and martyrdom a norm, invoked Mary, the Mother of their King, for spiritual support and protection. Mary, our heavenly mother, is always sought after by the faithful in times of troubles. The twentieth century witnesses the horrors of two world wars and the onslaughts of global Communist Revolution. Therefore, Pope Pius XII proclaimed the Queenship of Mary in October 1954. Once again, in times of troubles, the Church encourages her children to seek shelter in Our Lady.
In the Isaiah 9 we read today,  we find two verses which have been very popular.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined (Isaiah 9:2).
This has been quoted by Zechariah in the gospel of Luke to refer to the mission of John the Baptist. The second verse is immortalized by the Messiah of Handel.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and the government will be upon his shoulder,
and his name will be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
These two verses celebrate the salvation of God's Chosen People. In the salvation project of humanity, Mary occupies a very strategic role. She enrobed the Word of God with flesh. She fled with the young baby from the murderous attempts of Herod the Great to Egypt. She followed closely behind the entourage of the missionary Jesus until the foot of the cross. She took up the motherly role to take care of the church her son left behind. She continues to pray for her children on earth after her Assumption into heaven. Mary, our mother, is also our Queen, the most powerful piece in the game of chess. Who else will anyone turn to in times of troubles and dangers? Our Mother and our Queen.

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with You. You are the Queen of the Apostles, the Queen of the Angels. Pray for your children on earth that they may reach home from this pilgrimage on earth. Amen.