Q: What can you tell us about Mary as Queen of Creation?
A:There exist Marian
titles which have an official or classical character because they have been
used as specific formulation in prayers or other church documents over a long
period of time. Mary, Queen of Creation, does not seem to fit this category.
It is what can be termed artificial: the various elements of which it
consists somehow all relate to Mary but the title as such is an artificial
creation. There are many spiritual writers who made the connection between
Mary, Queen and creation. Andrew of Crete calls her "Queen of the human race"
(PG XCVII, 1079 B); Germanus of Constantinople "Queen and glorious above all
things" or "Queen of all those who dwell on earth" (PG XCVII, 303 A and 315
C); John Damascene reveres her as the Queen of every creature" (PG XLIV, 1158
B). In the liturgy we find advocations such as "Mundi Domina" and "Regina
coeli inclita" (lauds feast of Mary's birth)
The title is used to hail
Mary as Mother of the Creator, meaning Christ, and because of her association
in the redemption. She is the New Eve, and since Christ the King is the new
Adam, firstborn of creation, Mary might as well be called Queen of Creation.
The proximity with Christ is thus the first and immediate reason to
legitimize this title. It can also be used in a more anthropological vein: as
Immaculate Conception and Assumption, Mary represents not only the original
and abundantly graced concept of human similitude with God but also the
eminently fulfilled human destiny. Furthermore, there exists a long tradition
comparing Mary with specific aspects or elements of creation, for example in
Richard of St. Laurentius (+1245) who symbolically applies the whole of
creation to Mary. Representations of Mary in the rose garden or of the
apocalyptic woman (surrounded by stars,, moon and sun) point in this
direction. Many of these references highlight Mary's relationship to creation
more explicitly than they refer to her queenship. Pius XII's encyclical Ad
Coeli Reginam on proclaiming the queenship of Mary (Oct 11, 1954) is a good
source for further research.
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