QUEEN OF PROPHETS

(1) MARY, the Prophets trace out the picture of the Messias many centuries beforehand. In describing the stages of the mortal life of our Savior and the wonderful fruits of His mission, they obtained a glimpse of you, the loving Mother of this God-Man, the admirable daughter of Eve, whose glorious cooperation in the salvation of the world they knew that the Lord had announced at the beginning of the world. Your sweet and majestic person made their hearts beat for joy, while they wrote the prophetic history of your divine Son. How deeply must those three—David, Ezechiel, and Isaias—have been moved, for to them was made known by special revelation your wonderful dignity as Virgin Mother of God.

Now that in the abode of eternal glory they behold clearly your brilliant destiny, your dazzling crown as the "universal Queen of all creatures," with what joy do they pay homage to you, their Queen! With what veneration do they honor the excellence of the divine light with which you yourself have been favored by God!

Queen of Prophets, the Prophets of the Old Law had the most fervent desire for the promised Redeemer, your Son, and cried out with Isaias: "Drop down dew, you heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just one: let the earth be opened, and bud forth a Savior" (Isaias 45,8). Give me an ardent longing for Christ, especially through frequent Holy Communion and visits to the Blessed Sacrament.

(2) MARY, the Prophets were highly honored by both Jews and Gentiles on account of their holy lives, their great zeal for the Law of God, and their miracles and prophecies. They had to endure many sufferings and a number of them ended their lives by martyrdom. But above them all in honor and suffering are you, whom Isaias called the "prophetess" and "Virgin" and Mother of the Divine Redeemer, and David called "the King's daughter clothed in splendor."

You were a prophetess yourself. Through the Holy Spirit you predicted the occurrence of events which the distant future still held in its depths. The words which you spoke in the house of your cousin Elizabeth were a real prophecy and have been fulfilled at all times, even to the present: "From henceforth all generations shall call me blessed."

(3) MARY, animated by a lively zeal the Prophets put forth all their energy to rescue the Israelites from temporal and eternal ruin. They fought against the vice of idolatry and immorality. But you have sacrificed your own Son to rescue sinners. If you could have saved Him without injury to our redemption, you would willingly have sacrificed your own life. And now, enthroned in heaven, so great is your love for us that you are ever active in rescuing sinners from danger and in saving their souls.

Queen of Prophets, help me to imitate the Prophets and your own example. They never sought the world with its pleasures, but God alone. They were willing to suffer for Him in their zeal to save souls. Teach me to be zealous for the honor of God and for the salvation of my soul and that of my neighbor. Help me to realize that the most divine of all divine things is to labor with God for the salvation of souls.

O God, in Whose Passion, as Simeon had foretold, the most sweet soul of Mary, Your glorious Virgin-Mother, was pierced through by a sword of sorrow, mercifully grant that we who reverently meditate upon her transfixion and her sufferings, may obtain the blessed fruits of Your Passion through the glorious merits and prayers of all the saints faithfully standing at the Cross interceding for us. Who live and reign forever. Amen. (Feast of the Seven Sorrows of Mary, Fri. after Passion Sun.)