{"id":5018,"date":"2016-05-01T03:30:51","date_gmt":"2016-05-01T08:30:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicbookblogger\/?p=5018"},"modified":"2016-04-28T11:00:14","modified_gmt":"2016-04-28T16:00:14","slug":"let-the-queen-of-glory-come-in-mary-day-285","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicbookblogger\/2016\/05\/01\/let-the-queen-of-glory-come-in-mary-day-285\/","title":{"rendered":"Let the queen of glory come in!, Mary: Day 285"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"year_with_mary_alphonsus_1\"<\/a>Let the queen of glory come in!<\/h4>\n

St. Alphonsus imagines the coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven.<\/em><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s now imagine how our Savior went forth from heaven to meet his mother on the day of her assumption into heaven. On first meeting her, and to console her, Jesus speaks the words of the Song of Songs: \u201c \u2018Arise, my love, my dove, my fair one, and come away; for behold, winter is past\u2019 (Sg 2:10\u201311). Come, my own dear mother, my pure and beautiful dove. Leave that valley of tears in which, for my love, you have suffered so much. Come in soul and body to enjoy the reward of your holy life. Though your sufferings have been great on earth, far greater is the glory that I have prepared for you in heaven. Enter, then, that kingdom, and take your seat near me. Come to receive the crown that I will bestow upon you as Queen of the Universe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Behold, Mary is already leaving the earth. She looks at it with affection and compassion: with affection, remembering the many graces she had there received from her Lord; with compassion, because in it she leaves so many poor children surrounded with miseries and dangers. But Jesus offers her his hand, and the Blessed Mother ascends. Already she has passed beyond the clouds, beyond the heavenly spheres. Behold her already at the gates of heaven!<\/p>\n

When monarchs make their solemn entry into their kingdoms, they don\u2019t pass through the gates of the capital. Instead, the gates are removed to make way for them on that occasion. So when Jesus Christ entered paradise, the angels cried out: \u201cLift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in\u201d (Ps 24:7). In a similar way, now that Mary goes to take possession of the kingdom of heaven, the angels who accompany her cry out to those within: \u201cLift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the queen of glory may come in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary<\/em><\/p>\n

IN GOD\u2019S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today, I may find myself thrilled to see soldiers coming home from war, or per- haps the inauguration to political office of a favored candidate. If even these events can be occasions of exuberant celebration, how much more should I celebrate the coronation of my heavenly queen, coming home and taking her rightful throne?<\/p>\n

CLOSING PRAYER<\/strong><\/p>\n

We<\/em> rejoice with you, Lord, in welcoming your mother to her heavenly throne; we thrill to<\/em> know that \u201cat your right hand stands the queen in gold\u201d (Ps 45:9).<\/em><\/p>\n

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