Why do we crown Mary?

Pope Francis and image of Mary with Christ Child, Rome

Icon of Mary and Christ Child - St. Gregory Orthodox Church, Greece

Our Lady of Clemency - St. Clement's Episcopal Church, Philadelphia

One thing that is found in all Churches with Apostolic Succession, i.e. Roman, Orthodox, and Episcopal, is devotion to Mary, the Mother of God. Especially in the month of May, there seems to be an heightened sense of honoring of the Mother of God, mainly because Pentecost usually takes place sometime in May. We know from the Acts of the Apostles that the Apostles gathered in the Upper Room to pray for the Holy Spirit: "All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary, the Mother of Jesus (Acts 1:14)."  The Church, in praying for the coming of the Holy Spirit, once again gathers with Mary.  

Sometimes in May one will find a service of Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  But why? Isn't this taking away from honor due to Jesus?  .....NOPE! lol.

To understand our honoring of Mary, you have to understand the Old Testament and the Kingship of David.  David was the great King of Israel and so was his son Solomon.  However, the Queen in Israel was never the wife of the King; it was his Mother.  1 Kings 2:19 states, "So Bathsheba (Mother of Solomon) went to King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. And the King rose to meet her, and bowed down to her; then he sat on his throne and had a seat brought for the King's Mother, and she sat on his right. Then she said, "I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me." And the King said to her, "Make your request, my Mother, for I will not refuse you." The Hebrew word "gebirah" is used over 15 times in the Old Testament and can be translated as "Queen Mother" or "Great Lady." The Queen Mother in the Davidic Kingdom had the role of counselor and intercessor. The King may have many wives, but he only had one Mother.

Now we get to the New Testament.  At the Annunciation, the angel Gabriel says to Mary that the Lord God will give to Jesus "the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom there will be no end (Luke 1 32-33)." Christ is the true King and Son of David who will rule forever. Just as in the Old Testament Kingdoms, the King would have a Queen, His Mother.  We see Mary exercising her intercessory role at the Wedding Feast of Cana when she sought the Lord for more wine (John 3:1-13).  

But what about her being crown?  She may be Queen, dear priest, but what about that part? We find the answer in the Book of Revelation:  "And a great portent appeared in the heaven, a woman clothed with the Sun, with the moon under her feet, and ON HER HEAD A CROWN OF 12 STARS (Rev. 12:1)." She gave birth to a son "who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron (Rev. 12:5)."  Clearly, the child is Jesus and the "woman" is Mary.

If it is the will of the Lord Jesus to give his Mom a crown of 12 stars, it is good enough for us too! We rightfully call her Queen and Mother because those are the titles given to her by King Jesus, the Son of David, who rules forever and ever in the new Kingdom.  In honoring Mary, we honor the King who chose to give her these roles.  When we crown Mary, we exult Jesus.  When we honor Mary, we glorify Christ.  When we honor the Queen, we exult the King! We don't take away from Him, but honor Him.  

Be Biblical Christians and honor Mary! For in doing so, we exult the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Son of David, Jesus the Christ!