The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames)

Day 48: Mother and Queen (2026)

Date: February 17, 2026
Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR (Ascension)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames continues guiding listeners through the "Rosary in a Year" journey, focusing on the Fifth Glorious Mystery: the Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth. Drawing on Scripture, theology, and insights from Dr. Brant Pitre and St. John Damascene, Fr. Mark-Mary explores Mary’s queenship, its biblical roots, and what it means for devotion and prayer.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Biblical Foundation of Mary’s Queenship

(Starts ~02:00)

• Fr. Mark-Mary opens the reflection with Revelation 12:1-5, emphasizing the image of "a woman clothed with the sun... and on her head a crown of 12 stars."

• He connects this with Revelation 11:19, which directly precedes the vision and shows the "Ark of the Covenant... within his temple" in heaven.

  • "The woman clothed with the sun is consistently understood to represent an individual woman, Mary, but also the church." (03:20)

• The woman who brings forth a male child destined to "rule all the nations" is interpreted as Mary, positioning her as the Mother of the King—a fulfillment of Old Testament typology.

2. Old Testament Roots: The Queen Mother

(~05:00)

• Typology from the Old Testament: Mary as the "Queen Mother" (the mother of the king) is a well-established concept in ancient Israelite monarchy.

• Luke 1:32 affirms Jesus’s royal lineage and eternal kingship announced at the Annunciation.

  • "Jesus is the king who reigns forever. And Mary is the mother of the new David, the mother of Jesus, the mother of the new king, and therefore is a fulfillment of the Old Testament reality. She is the queen mother." (05:30)

• Psalm 45 is referenced:

  • “At your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.” (~07:00)
  • Interpreted as prophecy—Mary stands at Jesus’s right hand, sharing in royal honor and authority.

3. Mary’s Authority and Role as Queen

(~08:00)

• Mary is depicted "above the moon" and "crowned with stars," reinforcing her royal dignity.
• "To stand at the right hand of the king means to share in the authority of the king." (08:15)
• Fr. Mark-Mary stresses that as Queen Mother, Mary shares in Jesus's authority but remains subordinate to Him.

4. Veneration vs. Adoration: Mary’s Unique Honor

(~09:00-13:00)

• St. John Damascene's Writings:

  • “Neither the human tongue nor the mind of the angels ... can give worthy praise to her through whom it has been granted us to gaze clearly on the glory of the Lord.” (09:30)
  • Mary is called "God’s mother and a lady and queen over all created things."

• Hyperdulia vs. Latria:

  • Veneration paid to Mary (Hyperdulia) is the highest honor for a creature.
  • Adoration (Latria) is reserved for Jesus alone as God.
  • "If you want to honor a son, you also honor the mother. That honoring the mother is actually a form of honoring the son ... but it is distinctly different from Latria, this adoration which is only for Jesus." (11:20)

5. Mary’s Ongoing Intercessory Role

(~13:30)

• Just as the Queen Mother interceded in biblical times, so Mary intercedes for us now, "pouring out grace from heaven."

  • "Mary as queen continues this role ... by sharing in Jesus' authority, we know she acts as intercessor for us." (~13:50)

• Her queenship is not only a glorification of her maternal role but also a source of hope and efficacy for the faithful on their earthly journey.

6. Exhortation and Prayer

(~15:00)

• Fr. Mark-Mary encourages listeners to confidently honor Mary and trust her intercession.

  • "Let us be renewed in confidence of this great intercessor, this great advocate we have in heaven." (15:05)

• Leads the community in reciting the Our Father, three Hail Marys, and the Glory Be.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "She is the mother of the king, known as the queen mother. She is the Queen." (07:10)
• "This veneration and respect does not pull from our adoration of Jesus." (09:05)
• St. John Damascene: “Assuredly, she who played the part of the Creator's servant and mother is ... a lady and queen over all created things.” (09:45)
• "One of the greatest insults you can give to a man is, is to be disrespectful to his mother... it makes sense. If you want to honor a son, you also honor the mother." (11:10)
• "The veneration that we have for Mary ... is altogether different than the adoration we have for Jesus.” (12:40)
• "We owe Mary veneration and ... we can trust in her intercession." (13:20)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:00 — Revelation 12 & 11, Biblical imagery of the Queen Mother
• 05:00 — Luke 1 and Old Testament background for Mary’s role
• 07:00 — Psalm 45 as prophecy of Mary's queenship
• 09:30 — St. John Damascene on praise and veneration of Mary
• 11:10 — Distinction between honoring Mary (hyperdulia) and worshiping God (latria)
• 13:50 — Mary’s role as queenly intercessor
• 15:00 — Exhortation to trust Mary's intercession and community prayer

Conclusion

Fr. Mark-Mary’s reflection for Day 48 roots Mary’s title as “Mother and Queen” firmly in Scripture and tradition, emphasizing her unique honor, intercessory power, and the deep connection between honoring Mary and honoring Jesus. The episode closes with heartfelt prayer, inviting listeners to deepen confidence in Mary's advocacy as Queen of Heaven and Earth.