Why We Call Mary Queen… and Why It Points Back to Christ
I want to take a moment to talk about something that often raises questions, especially for those who didn’t grow up in Catholic or Orthodox traditions: Why do Christians call Mary “Queen”? Isn’t that taking attention away from Jesus?
It’s a good question, and the answer actually brings us right back to Christ.
The Biblical Roots of Queenship
In the Old Testament, the “queen” was not always the king’s wife but often his mother. She was called the Gebirah, the “great lady” who sat at the king’s right hand and interceded for the people (see 1 Kings 2:19, where Bathsheba intercedes before Solomon). This wasn’t a sentimental title; it was an office, part of the kingdom’s structure.
When we proclaim Jesus as the King of Kings, Scripture itself invites us to ask: Who then is the Queen Mother of His Kingdom? Mary. Not because she rules instead of Christ, but because she shares uniquely in His mission by being His mother.
Mary’s Queenship Is Christ-Centered
Mary is not Queen because of her own power or ambition. She is Queen because of who her Son is. Every Marian title is Christological at its core:
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She is Mother of God because Jesus is God.
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She is Queen of Heaven because Jesus is King.
Her dignity always flows from Him. To call her Queen is not to exalt her over Christ, but to honor the place He Himself gave her.
Answering Objections
“Doesn’t this take glory away from Jesus?”
No. Think of it like this: praising a masterpiece honors the artist. When we honor Mary, we glorify the God who created her and the Son who redeemed her.
“Isn’t this unbiblical?”
The imagery of Mary as Queen has biblical roots in the Queen Mother of Israel, and Revelation 12 depicts a woman crowned with twelve stars, giving birth to the Messiah. The Church has always seen this as pointing to Mary’s role in Christ’s Kingdom.
“Why do Catholics pray to her?”
Prayer to Mary is not worship. It is asking her to intercede, just as we might ask a friend to pray for us. Only, in this case, the friend happens to be the Queen Mother who sits at the side of the King.
What This Means for Us
Mary’s queenship is not about power or privilege. It is about service and intercession. The Queen Mother’s role was to bring the petitions of the people to the King. That is exactly how Christians have understood Mary’s place in heaven: she prays with us and for us, pointing us always back to her Son.
To call Mary Queen is to proclaim Christ as King, and to trust that even now, in the fullness of His Kingdom, she is still saying, “Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5).
A Closing Thought
If you find yourself struggling with this title, start with Christ. Ask: What does it mean that He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Once you see Him as King, Mary’s place beside Him begins to make sense. Her crown does not diminish His… it shines because of His.
May we learn from our Queen to bring everything back to Jesus, who is the true center of our lives, our Church, and our hope.
A Day of Fasting and Prayer for Peace
Today, August 22, Pope Leo XIV has called all of us to join in a day of fasting and prayer for peace. The timing is intentional: it falls on the Feast of the Queenship of Mary. Just as we honor Mary as Queen, we turn our hearts toward her Son, the Prince of Peace, asking Him to wipe away every tear and bring justice to the suffering.
The Pope’s appeal is especially urgent as war continues to rage in the Holy Land, Ukraine, and so many other corners of the world. In prayer, we remember the mothers and fathers who grieve, the children who cry out in fear, and the communities torn apart by violence. In fasting, we choose solidarity over comfort, reminding ourselves that peace is not just an idea but a mission entrusted to us as Christians.
I invite you to join me today in setting aside time for prayer and offering even a small fast. Let our hunger remind us of those who are hungry for safety, stability, and peace. And let our prayer rise together like incense before the Lord, who alone can heal our broken world.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).
If this reflection speaks to you, I invite you to share it with others and join me in prayer today. You can also subscribe to my free Substack for daily reflections and pastoral notes—together we can keep lifting our voices for peace and justice.