A Crown of Twelve Stars

by Fr. Robert Vennetti, MIC

Twentieth of a 20-part series on the Mysteries of the Rosary.

A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. - Revelation 12:1

Finally the Immaculate Virgin ... when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death. - Catechism of the Catholic Church, 966

As we meditate on the Blessed Virgin Mary's coronation as Queen of heaven and earth, we should ponder the immense joy in our Lord Jesus' Sacred Heart at that moment.

Jesus, who "came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly" (Jn 10:10), wants us all to share in His life of glory. Thus, He must have had abundant joy as His loving Mother Mary - His most faithful disciple - entered into eternal glory and was crowned. Pondering Jesus' joy when He crowned His Mother can also help us long for the eternal joy of heaven, encouraging us to delight the Hearts of Jesus and Mary by striving to live lives worthy of heaven.

Also, Jesus honored His Mother and ours during her earthly life and honors her during her eternal life in accordance with His own commandment (see Ex 20:12; Dt 5:16). He rejoices when we honor Mary, strive to imitate her virtues, and go through Mary to Jesus with trust in her powerful intercession.

Jesus' first public miracle was through Mary's intercession at the wedding in Cana (see Jn 2:1-12). Following that pattern, Jesus continues to pour forth abundant grace through Mary's heavenly intercession, especially "the gifts of eternal salvation" (CCC, 969). In fact, the approved apparitions of Our Lady (for example, Lourdes, Fatima, Kibeho, etc.) confirm and remind us that our Heavenly Mother cares deeply for us. God desires that we implore her powerful intercession, especially through the recitation of the Holy Rosary.

What a perfect mystery to end the Rosary! It is related to all the mysteries of the Rosary, for the Rosary is meant to help us "contemplate with Mary the face of Christ" (Rosarium Virginis Mariae, St. John Paul II) and receive abundant graces through Mary's powerful intercession.

One of the fruits of this mystery is a deeper trust in Mary's powerful intercession, knowing that she desires to exercise her role as Queen in service of her children. She especially wants to help us come to share her glory in heaven, prepared in a special way for those who conform their lives and hearts more and more to Jesus and Mary.

We know that praying for the conversion of sinners and all those most in need of God's mercy is especially dear to her heart so that they, too, may receive from Jesus through Mary "the gifts of eternal salvation."

As we continue our journey with Jesus and Mary, let us ask Jesus Christ the King to increase our trust in the powerful intercession of Mary, our Queen and Mother, who accompanies us and desires us to be with her one day, eternally singing with her the praises of the Lord. Let us ask her to intercede and, through her prayers, to pour forth the graces needed for sinners to embrace the "gifts of eternal salvation."

*****
Joyful Mysteries
1. The Annunciation
2. The Visitation
3. The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus
4. The Presentation in the Temple
5. The Finding in the Temple

Luminous Mysteries
1. The Baptism of Jesus
2. The Wedding at Cana
3. The Proclamation of the Gospel
4. The Transfiguration
5. The Institution of the Eucharist

Sorrowful Mysteries
1. The Agony in the Garden
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
3. The Crowning with Thorns
4. The Carrying of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord Jesus

Glorious Mysteries
1. The Resurrection
2. The Ascension
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
4. The Assumption
5. The Coronation

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