The following article, "Mary, Queen of  Apostles," is the title chapter excerpted from the book of the same name written by Rosalie Marie Levy. Here also is the preface from that book. -  Asst. Ed.

Preface

After God, the Blessed Virgin Mary occupies first place in the universe. In Heaven she is Queen of angels, archan­gels, and all the other glorious hierarchies. On earth she is Queen of patriarchs and prophets, Queen of apostles and martyrs, Queen of confessors and virgins, Queen of all saints. The Church of Christ has always proclaimed her praises. After the devotion to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, there is none more dear to truly Christian hearts than that to His Mother.

The central devotion to Mary is the Divine Maternity, which is the source of her ineffable dignity and fullness of grace. The privileges of her Immaculate Conception, her freedom from all sin, her perpetual virginity, her assump­tion into Heaven, her special mediatorship between the Re­deemer and the redeemed, and her exclusive right to an exaltation of honor and love above that which may be of­fered to anyone other than her Son, arise in that maternity, because of the Divinity of her Son, Jesus Christ.

We must always remember that devotion to the Mother of God was publicly proclaimed by Jesus Himself when, nailed to the Cross, He pronounced the words: "Son, be­hold thy Mother; Mother, behold thy Son". It is a bequest of His will and testament; one which He consecrated with His Blood.

Just as Mary stood at the foot of the Cross on the day our redemption was wrought, so has she continued to stand by the Church which Jesus established. Just as she prayed those ten days with the Apostles and was with them when they received the Holy Ghost, so has she always prayed with the Church. And through the centuries Mary has been regarded as the Queen of Apostles, the Help of Christians, the Tower of David.

Since Jesus came to us through Mary, she cannot be dissociated from Him; she cannot be ignored by those who profess to follow Christ. Therefore, Catholics venerate and honor the Blessed Virgin Mary because the Creator of all mankind honored and blessed her by choosing her to be the Mother of mankind's Savior.

Prior to the so-called "Reformation" in the sixteenth century all Christians honored Mary. Since that time it has been charged that Catholics adore the Mother of Christ as they adore God; that they insult the Son by honoring His Mother. We honor Mary because she was honored by Him. We do not adore Mary, because adoration is due to God a-lone, but we do honor her. We cannot honor her too much, since she is the one whom God honored and blessed above all other creatures. However, let us keep the language of the early Church: "Let her be honored and esteemed; let Him be worshipped and adored".

No mortal is able to portray, worthily and accurately the virtues of the Virgin Mary. Her majesty is too glorious; her virtues too grand.

Therefore, humbly prostrate at your feet, dear Mother, we acknowledge the inability of our intellect, and our inca­pacity to appreciate your greatness and your sanctity. We implore your motherly assistance in the stupendous task undertaken.

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Mary was not only the Mother, the inspiration, the consoler, the help of the first Apostles; she was their Queen. For thirty years she had lived with Jesus, and like a clear crystal she was filled with His light and holiness. Her very presence and example edified all who had the happiness to approach her. No one could converse with her or gaze upon her without feeling near to God. As she was helpful in the life of the Savior, so was she helpful in that of the Apostles during the public life of Christ and after His Ascension. She encouraged them in their efforts to spread the truths Jesus had taught and commanded them to preach in order to win souls for Him and His Kingdom.

Whilst the Apostles preached Jesus, the Light of the World, as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, it was Mary who brought Him forth. She is His Mother. But for Mary there would be no Gospel for the Apostles to preach; but for Mary there would be no Christ, Who sent the Apostles; but for Mary the world would never have seen any Apostle nor heard the words of salvation. How much greater then is Mary than the Apostles! The Apostles labored for the conversion of nations by word and deed; Mary encour­aged them in their work and assisted them by her prayers, which obtained for them God's blessings. Yet, Mary was more important than the Apostles; she never intruded between them and her Divine Son. She was a gentle, humble Queen. In the same manner, as during Christ's earthly life, she remained with the Apostles, always present, yet in the background.

It is the opinion of the most renowned Fathers of the Church that Mary is ever zealous to enkindle the light of faith in the hearts of all who sit "in darkness and in the shadow of death", and to save their souls from perdition. St. Augustine and St. Ambrose praise Mary as the teacher of nations; St. Cyril says that through her the Gentiles were rescued from idolatry, and the Church herself ex­claims: "Rejoice, O Virgin Mary, who alone hast destroy­ed all heresies throughout the world". Many countries, such as Poland, Hungary, France, and the United States, owe the gift of Faith especially to the Blessed Virgin, and she is venerated as their Patroness. Thus Mary is the Queen of Apostles on account of her Apostolic zeal.

Mary is also Queen of Apostles because, beginning with the Apostles themselves, all apostolic men have loved and honored her as their Queen. After the Ascension of Jesus Mary became Queen of the Apostles, their "stay and their prop". She encouraged them in their Apostolic labors, and comforted them in their persecutions and sufferings.

St. Jerome writes: "Mary remained for a time on earth after the Ascension of her Son, with the Apostles, that she might instruct them more fully, since she had seen and handled things more familiarly, and was therefore better able to express them. For things that we better know we better utter". Yes, truly could Mary relate the facts of the early life of Jesus and say: "I have seen Gabriel, who call­ed Him Lord, and the aged Simeon, who held Him in his arms. I have seen the Magi when they bowed down, and I know how troubled Herod was that the King had come". St. Eusebius adds, that "Mary being most wise preserved in her heart all the words of Jesus Christ, and kept them for us, and caused them to be registered, in order that according to her instruction their recital and dictation should be published and preached throughout the world and given us to read".

Mary's help, however, was not confined to words. According to St. Ignatius of Antioch she led a life of very active charity. St. Ambrose says: "In the one Virgin how many glorious examples do shine forth! Hers was the hid­den treasure of modesty, hers the high standard of faith, hers the self-sacrifice of earnestness... her toil unceasing".

The successors of the Apostles, the Popes and bishops, and the most renowned priests of the Catholic Church of all times have paid profound veneration to the Blessed Virgin; they have saluted her as their Queen, and placed their Apostolic labors under her protection. We know, for example, that St. Francis Xavier, the apostle of India and Japan, venerated Mary all his life with sentiments of rev­erence and tenderness. He made his first vows in Paris on the feast of the Assumption of Mary in the church of Montmartre, which is dedicated to Mary, the Queen of Heaven. The thought of her was ever in his mind. When he implored God for any grace, it was through Mary's intercession. Frequently he made the glories and the goodness of Mary the subject of his instructions, admon­ishing his hearers to venerate Mary. He urged them to consecrate themselves to her service, and he concluded all his discourses with the "Hail, Holy Queen". He never undertook anything without having first invoked her, and he always had recourse to her for protection in the innu­merable dangers to which he was so frequently exposed. He considered it an honor to show exteriorly that he was her servant. He wore around his neck her Rosary, which he said daily, and which he used in performing some of his miracles whereby many unbelievers were converted. When on his missionary journeys he met great sinners, he fervently prayed to the Mother of Mercy to obtain for them the grace of a return to her Divine Son.

Probably no saint understood better than St. Gertrude the power and the necessity of Mary's assistance in the sanctification of souls. She had a most tender devotion to the Mother of God. Our Lord revealed to her in many sublime visions, the grandeur and dignity of His Virgin Mother. In many ways Jesus made known to St. Gertrude the law He imposed upon Himself of communicating His riches to man only through the hands and the Heart of Mary. When Jesus commenced to favor St. Gertrude with special revelations, He said to her: "I give thee My own Mother as thy protectress. I confide thee to her care". Dur­ing an hour of trial, St. Gertrude was terrfied and called upon Jesus to help her. He replied: "I have given thee My own merciful Mother for thine, and it is through her I will dispense My graces to thee. Have recourse to her in all thy necessities and thou wilt surely find strength and con­solation".

On more than one occasion, the Blessed Mother per­mitted the humble Gertrude to be associated with her in the joys of her Divine Maternity. From Christmas to Candlemas, St. Gertrude received so many tokens of love from the Divine Child and His Blessed Mother that without supernatural assistance her heart could scarcely have borne the excess of such love and grace. She celebrated Our Lady's feasts with a joyful heart, and expected special favors from her on these days.

On one occasion, on the feast of Our Lady's Nativity, St. Gertrude asked what reward those would receive who celebrated this feast with fervor, and Mary answered: "They will merit a special share in the joys which I possess in Heaven, and in the virtues with which the most glorious Trinity adorns me".Again, on the vigil of the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, St. Gertrude asked Our Lord to obtain for her the good will of His sweet Mother, as she feared she had never been sufficiently devout to her. Jesus inclined most graciously toward His Mother and in a fond embrace mani­festing the most filial affection, said: "Remember, O Mis­tress, Mother most loving, that for thy sake I am merciful to sinners, and regard My elect one as if she had served thee all her life with due devotion". At these words the Blessed Mother gave herself entirely to St. Gertrude, for the sake of her Divine Son.

Another time St. Gertrude asked Our Lord what would be most pleasing to Him at that moment, and what He desired of her, and He replied: "Place thyself before My Mother, who reigns at My side, and endeavor to praise her".St. Gertrude followed the advice, greeting the Heav­enly Mother as the "paradise of delights", the "most beau­tiful habitation of God". She implored Mary to fill her heart with virtues, so that God would take pleasure in dwelling therein. The Blessed Mother adorned her with the rose of love, the lily of chastity, the violet of humility, and the heliotrope of obedience.

She also learned from the Heavenly Mother that when anyone piously greets her with the words, O radiant Lily of the ever-peaceful Trinity! O resplendent Rose of heav­enly charm!, Mary bestows favors upon that soul accord­ing to her power, through the omnipotence of the Father, the wisdom of the Son, and the benignity of the Holy Spirit. And the Blessed Virgin added: To him who greets me thus, I will appear at his death in the bloom of such beauty that he shall enjoy a foretaste of heavenly comfort and sweetness. In consequence of this revelation, St. Ger­trude frequently greeted the Blessed Virgin, as follows:

"Hail, fair Lily of the ever-peaceful and glorious Trin­ity! Hail, effulgent Rose of the heavenly court, of whom the King of Heaven willed to be born and to be nourished with thy milk! Feed our souls by the effusions of the Divine influences".

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St. Francis of Assisi placed his confidence in our Blessed Lady. He took her for his advocate, and in her honor fasted devoutly from the Feast of the Apostles Saints Peter and Paul until the festival of the Assumption. It was in consequence of her sincere devotion towards the Blessed Virgin Mary that Clotilda obtained the con­version of Clovis, the first Christian king of France.

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It was by her devotion to Mary, that the pious and virtuous Blanche of Castile, obtained the birth of St. Louis. He practiced every devotion towards the Blessed Virgin.

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St. Jane of Valois, the illustrious consort of Louis XII, consecrated her royal person to the service of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and instituted the Order of the Annunciade, intended to honor in a more special manner the ten prin­cipal virtues of the Mother of God: her angelic purity, her prudence, her perfect humility, her lively faith, her sincere devotion, her entire obedience, her poverty, her invincible patience, her uninversal charity, and her tender com­passion.

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King Louis XIII of France, on August 15, 1638, ded­icated himself, his country, his crown and his subjects to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and he instituted solemn pro­cessions on the feast of the Assumption.

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All members of the Cistercian Order, because of their special love for Mary, include her name in their own religious name. Their co-founder introduced the Cistercian white habit in honor of Our Lady.

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St. John Bosco (1815-88) had a special devotion to Mary. He founded the Daughters of Our Lady Help of Christians. He said: "Do what you can! God and Our Lady will do the rest!"