Regina Apostolorum
Saturday, May 16th Readings Reflection: Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Today’s Gospel reading comes from Our Lord’s Last Supper discourse to His Twelve Apostles. He tells them that He is leaving the world and returning to the Father, the fulfillment of which we just commemorated this week on the Feast of the Ascension. Earlier in this discourse, Christ had promised His Apostles that He would not leave them as orphans but would send His Holy Ghost to teach them all things (see Jn 14:18, 14: 26 DRB).
Traditionally, the Saturday after the Ascension commemorates Our Lady under her title Queen of Apostles. This title recognizes that Our Lady is the first apostle, preceding even the Twelve Apostles since she herself was an apostle from the moment of the Incarnation. During the nine days that the Apostles remained in the Cenacle between the Ascension and Pentecost, tradition tells us that Our Lady was in their midst, leading them in prayer as they awaited the Paraclete.
The title of Our Lady as Queen of Apostles also reminds us of her role as Mother of the Church. Christ truly did not leave His Apostles and the Church alone; He gave us the Paraclete and also His Mother, who desires above all else to lead each of her children to her divine Son. Just as the Apostles looked to Our Lady in the Cenacle as an example of prayer and virtue, so too we can look to Our Lady as an example for our own lives. She is our model of prayer, purity, and all virtues, helping us to more fully live out the fruits and gifts of the Holy Ghost. By her “fiat” at the Annunciation and her participation in the Incarnation, Our Lady is the Spouse of the Holy Ghost, having conceived the Incarnate Son of God in her womb by the power of the Holy Ghost.
In these last days of the Easter season, as we prepare for the coming of the Holy Ghost alongside the Apostles, let us unite our hearts with Our Lady, Queen of Apostles. May we imitate her prayerful patience in awaiting the fulfillment of Christ’s promise, clinging in hope to the promise of Easter and striving to remain faithful in order to attain eternity with the risen Lord.
Our Lady, Queen of Apostles, pray for us!
