# Mary, queen and handmaid of the Lord
*2015-12-08*

> Bill Young concludes a nine-day novena in honor of the Immaculate Conception, reflecting on the relationship between Mary's humility and her queenship.

## Opening Prayer and Creed

Today is Tuesday, December 8, the feast day of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We are completing the novena in honor of the Immaculate Conception; today is day nine, the final day. We begin in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. O God, come to my aid; our Lord, make haste to help me. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, the only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell, and on the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life of the world to come. Amen.

## The Magnificat

On this ninth day, we honor Mary as the queen and handmaid of the Lord. From the Gospel according to Luke: 'My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; for he has looked upon the humility of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name, and his faithful love extends age after age to those who fear him. He has used the power of his arm; he routed the arrogant of heart. He has pulled down princes from their thrones and raised up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. He has come to the help of Israel, his servant, mindful of his faithful love, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to mercy to Abraham and his descendants forever.' The Lord chose her before she was born; he made her live in his own dwelling place.

## Meditation on Service and Sovereignty

Jesus taught his disciples that if anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and the servant of all. Mary allowed this word to become flesh in her from the beginning. By listening to the Word and obeying it, she fulfilled her vocation as spouse and mother. By placing herself at the service of God, she lent herself to the service of all humanity. Her service was one of love, which she continues to this day. Indeed, it was through serving others that Mary gained experience in her life. In a mysterious but authentic way, for Mary to reign is to serve. To serve is to reign.

An immaculate virgin fulfills her queenship by giving herself entirely—first to her Son, and then to the whole of humankind. It is by serving others with love and our own free will that we express the true regality of being. The Almighty has done great things for Mary, and all generations call her blessed, because she is the humble servant who does nothing but the will of God. Thus, she has been chosen by God to be the queen of heaven and earth.

## Closing Prayer

Hail, song of seraphim, and praise of all the angels. Hail, peace and joy of the human race. Hail, garden of delights. Hail, root of life. Hail, bulwark of the faithful and haven of the shipwrecked. Hail, rebuke of Adam. Hail, ransom of Eve. Hail, most holy temple. Hail, throne of the Lord. Hail, O blessed one, who have crushed the head of the dragon and cast them into the abyss. Hail, refuge of the afflicted, hail, deliverance from the curse. Hail, O Mother of Christ, Son of the living God, to whom belong the glory, honor, adoration, and praise everywhere, now and forever, until the end of time.

*True regality is found in humble service to God and others, as exemplified by the Blessed Virgin Mary.*