Catholic Matters

DAY 30: OCTOBER DEVOTION: 30/10/2025
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
TOPIC: QUEEN ASSUMED INTO HEAVEN

Why Mary is called, "Queen Assumed into Heaven."

Mary is called "Queen Assumed into Heaven" because she is believed to have been taken into heaven, body and soul, at the end of her earthly life, and because she is considered the Queen of Heaven due to her role as the mother of Jesus, the King of Kings

She is the Queen of Heaven and the mother of the King. This concept is rooted in the Old Testament tradition of the "queen mother," who held a prominent position in the king's court, such as the mother of King Solomon. Since Jesus is the King of Kings, it follows that Mary, as his mother, is the Queen of Heaven. Having become the mother of God, she is also considered the mother of every creature. And she share in Christ's Kingship: Her queenship is seen as a share in her son's kingship and authority, a role she holds as the mother of the King. In Israel the mother of the king held the role of queen mother as earlier said. In essence she held a role of great prominence in the court and the king would usually acquiesce to her wishes (1 Kings 2:20; Jer. 13:18; 29:2). In 1 and 2 Kings the kings are almost always listed with their mothers and are depicted as advising their sons. Getting to the king through the queen mother is a natural thought and spurred Christians to ask Mary to intercede with Jesus on their behalf. Mary’s queenship is a share in Jesus’ kingship.

MARY'S ASSUMPTION

From the earliest times Christians believed that the body of the Mother of God, who was never stained by original sin, had not been corrupted by death. There was a strong tradition that Mary died quietly and peacefully amidst the Apostles. Her death, according to this tradition, was not like other deaths which are accompanied by suffering, reluctance to leave this world, and a fear of the unknown. Her death, rather, was an act of pure love, an intense desire to be reunited with Her Son. A short time after Her burial, according to this tradition, the Apostles visited Her tomb and found it empty. Her body had been taken to Heaven to be reunited with Her soul.

The teaching of her being "assumed" into heaven, meaning she was taken up by God, establishes her as a queen in glory. The Church celebrates this belief with the feast of the Assumption on August 15th and the Queenship of Mary on August 22nd. The Assumption is seen as a preview of the general resurrection for other Christians, where the faithful hope to share in the same glory that Mary now enjoys.

"Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." (Acts 2:27). Also Psalms 16:10

This passage is often interpreted as referring to Jesus' resurrection and God's promise to preserve his body from decay. But it's not only to Jesus but us also. It was Saint Paul who said,

"If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." - (Romans 8:11).

Mary was the one overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, she became the spouse of the Holy spirit the mysterious marriage took place as recorded in the book of Luke: "And the power of the Most High shall overshadow You" (Luke 1:35). Holy men like Enoch and Elijah didn't experience death, neither did their body see decay. (Gen. 5:24 & 2Kings 2:11). We can say that of Moses as well. It was recorded in scripture during Jesus transfiguration from the book of Matthew:

Matthew 17:3
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to him, talking with him. None of these men can be said to have more consecration than Mary who was overshadowed by the holy spirit. While others may argue that she was married to Joseph which is true but only based on Jewish rites and tradition so that she won't be exposed to death according to the Jewish law; she actually belonged to the Holy Spirit, who is the confirmation of every God's word and cannot contradict himself.

"You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife." - (Exodus 20:17). So if Mary belonged to Joseph, why would the Holy Spirit covet her? You shall not commit adultery (Exodus 20:17). She belonged to the Holy Spirit and the same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, the spirit of Christ and the love between the father and the son.

The Assumption also reminds us that our final goal is not on this earth but in Heaven. If we live according to God's laws, our body and soul will someday be reunited in Heaven, as Mary's are. The troubles we face in this world will be forgotten in the eternal happiness of Heaven.

LET US PRAY
Dear Mother Mary, Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for me and guide me in times of need. Amen.

©️ Judeson Alex

DAY 29: OCTOBER DEVOTION: 29/10/2025
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
TOPIC: QUEEN OF CONFESSORS

Why Mary is Called, "Queen Of Confessors"

In order to understand this title, we need to clarify the meaning of the word confessor. The verb 'to confess' means ''to acknowledge belief or faith in". As a person, a confessor is one who confesses his faith in Christianity especially in the face of persecutions.

As far as Christianity is concerned, confessors are individuals who have suffered persecution, tortures or imprisonment for their faith, but unlike martyrs, they were not killed for it. They endured hardships and risks, yet remained faithful and confessed their beliefs. Confessors often demonstrated remarkable courage and conviction, inspiring others with their witness.

In applying this title to our lady we are expressing the deep faith and ardent love our Lady had for Jesus in all the vicissitudes of his life. The life of our Lady was a difficult one. The nobler the vocation to which God calls a person, the greater are the demands on faith, hope and love. The silence she portrays in the gospel narratives speaks volumes of her tenacity of faith.

Our Lady's confession of her son was perfect, ardent and single-minded. For the rest of humankind, our confession of Jesus is vacillating. We are like the reed shaken by the wind. As Saint Paul puts it, "You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?" (Gal. 3:1). The answer is provided by Paul himself; "Are you foolish? Having started with the spirit, are you now ending with the flesh?" (Gal. 3:7).

For humankind, it is an endless story of vacillation between our faith, the flesh and the world. To us may very well apply the words of the prophet Elijah to the Israelites:

"How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him, but if Baal, then follow him." (1 kings 18:21)

The options, indeed, are clear but, though the spirit may be willing, the flesh is weak. Our lady was constant in her confession, changeless and ever bright. For this reason we extoll her as the "QUEEN OF CONFESSORS"

LET US PRAY
O Mary, my loving mother, look with pity upon this weak child. From the valley of tears, I call to thee. Please, mother dear, look tenderly upon me. Help me to be constant in confession of Jesus and thee. Amen.

©️ Judeson Alex

DAY 27: OCTOBER DEVOTION: 27/10/2025
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
TOPIC: QUEEN OF APOSTLES

Why Mary is called the "Queen Of Apostles".

Mary is referred to as the "Queen of Apostles" because of her unique role in the early Christian community and her contributions to the spread of the Gospel. She's the first disciple of Jesus, and her faithfulness and obedience make her a role model for all apostles. Mary was also present in the upper room at Pentecost (Acts 1:14), where the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, empowering them for their mission. She was also a witness to Jesus' birth, life, death, and resurrection, making her a valuable resource for the early Christian community.

If we read the gospels carefully, we will discern that there are two tasks uppermost in the mind of Jesus, which he wanted to accomplish before the close of his short public ministry- First, the collection of a core group of close followers; second, the celebration and the establishment of the Eucharist, the sacrament of his body and blood. We see this clearly affirmed by Jesus. "He said to them, 'i have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer... (Luke 22:15).

By the most sacred moment of his life, a short while before his passion, Jesus had accomplished both- he had formed the core group of followers, whom he called apostles, and given to them his sacramental presence to celebrate in perpetuity. The mission of Jesus' apostles was to witness for him. "Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, the Jesus whom you crucified" (Acts 2:36).

The apostles of Jesus were chosen in spite of their shortcomings. Our lady was chosen because she was the favoured one. Her mission was the greatest, the noblest, the most unique and never to be repeated in the history of mankind. Not only was our lady a friend, but she was the mother of Jesus. She shared his most intimate thoughts and "treasured all these things in her heart" (Luke 2:51). Our lady was with Jesus from the beginning to the end, she was his faithful witness to the end, she shared in his cup of suffering; "And a sword will pierce your own soul too..." (Luke 2:35), and the zenith of her suffering was at Calvary where she looked on in silence as her already battered and facially disfigured son hung naked on the cross and as if that wasn't enough, his lifeless body was laid in her arms.

Mary is best seen as the "Queen of Apostles" as they (she and the apostles) gather together awaiting the descent of the Holy Spirit. It was Mary's choice to be with the Apostles at this very difficult time. Her presence and her fortitude was strength to them and her mission continues.

LET US PRAY

O Mary, our mother and Queen of the Apostles. The world stands in greater need of liberation today. Direct our efforts to bring the world to Jesus. In times of persecution, be our protection. In times of discouragement, be our inspiration. In times of fatigue, be our strength. In fulfilling our mission, help us to strive to the end. Amen

Judeson Alex

DAY 25: OCTOBER DEVOTION: 25/10/2025
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
TOPIC: QUEEN OF PATRIARCHS

Why Mary Is Called, "Queen Of Patriarchs"

Mary is called the "Queen of Patriarchs" because she is considered the mother of the patriarchs of the old testament, as well as the mother of Jesus, who is the fulfilment of the patriarchal promises. The title is rooted in the biblical narrative where Mary is seen as the new Eve, and her role as the mother of Jesus is understood as a fulfilment of the promises made to the patriarchs of the old testament, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Mary is the spiritual mother of all believers, a powerful intercessor and a model of faith and this title reflects her esteemed position in your church.

The word Patriarch, from the Greek word "Patriarches", means the head of the family. The patriarchs refers to those persons from Adam to Noah (before the flood) and Jacob and his sons, "the progenitors of the twelve tribes of israel."

The history of the people of God is ancient. With the creation of Adam and his subsequent fall, God's salvific plan commences. To this end God chose various people who would bring about the fulfilment of his plan. Hence in

"Long ago, God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways through the prophets." (Hebrews 1:1)

The coming of Jesus took centuries of preparation with different persons, peoples and countries. These patriarchs were not paragons of virtue, but they were presented as ideal figures of men who lived in worshipful submission to the God who revealed himself to them and they expected from his hands whatever blessings they were to receive.

Mary is acclaimed the 'Queen of Patriarchs' because she is the climax or fulfilment of all that our Patriarchs believed, aspired and expectantly yearned for. Our Lady is typified in the life of our ancestors and she is the summation of all their aspirations.

The church for instance hails the sin of Adam and Eve and describes it in the exultet on Easter night as "O Happy Fault, o necessary sin of Adam which gained for us so great a redeemer."

This is not to condone Adam and Eve's sin; rather, it means that if Adam's loss was so great, our gain was greater. Adam and Eve lost a life of natural happiness but humankind gained the Son of God and supernatural life of grace that makes us children of God.

Let us turn our eyes to Abraham. It was Abraham's obedience of faith and his unshakeable confidence in God's word that won him the title of "Our Father in Faith". We owe the origins of our faith to him. Our Lady, like Abraham, was also put to a severe testing. From her obedience of faith to the angels message she remained faithful. Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac remained a figure, our Lady's sacrifice was the reality. There are many more examples to give, Jesus however sums them up saying;

"Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded onto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself"
(Luke 24:25-28)

Mary is the Queen Of Patriarchs. In her is fulfilled all the promises God made and all that the Patriarchs looked forward to.

LET US PRAY
O Mary, Queen of our fathers we thank you for your obedience. We praise you for your gift of Jesus to us. We ask you to take care of us everyday at every step; for you alone can protect us. Amen

©️ Judeson Alex