Liturgical norms permitting, it is appropriate to celebrate the Mass of the Queenship of Mary (22 August) or the Mass corresponding to the title represented by the image to be crowned.

LITURGY OF THE WORD

In the Mass everything up to and including the gospel reading is done as usual. After the gospel reading, the bishop gives the homily, in which he explains both the biblical readings and the maternal and regal role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the mystery of the Church.

RITE OF CROWNING

Thanksgiving and invocation

After the homily, ministers bring to the bishop the crown [crowns] with which the image [images] of [Christ and] Mary is [are] to be crowned. Putting aside the miter, the bishop rises, and, while standing at the chair, says the following prayer. If images of both Christ and Mary are to be crowned, he includes in the prayer the words (printed in brackets) referring to an image of Christ.

Blessed are you, Lord, God of heaven and earth, for in your mercy and justice you cast down the mighty and exalt the lowly. Your marvelous wisdom is shown above all in the Word made flesh and in his Virgin Mother. For he, your Son, who freely humbled himself even unto death on the cross, now sits at your right hand and is radiant with unending glory, the King of kings and Lord of lords; and she, the Virgin who wished to be called your servant, was singled out to be Mother of the Redeemer and true Mother of all the living: now she is exalted above the choirs of angels and reigns in glory with her Son, praying for all of us, the Queen of mercy, pleading for grace.

Merciful Lord, look upon us your servants, who by crowning this image of the Mother of your Son, [or: Who by crowning this image of Christ and his Mother,] proclaim him as King of all creation and approach her as our queen.

Give us the grace to follow them in serving you; to do what love demands for the sake of our brothers and sisters; to deny ourselves and spend ourselves, so as to win our neighbors for you; to be lowly on earth, so as to be exalted in heaven where you reward your faithful servants with a crown of life.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

Crowning

After the prayer, the bishop sprinkles the crown [crowns] with holy water and in silence places the crown on the image of Mary. Or, as noted earlier (no. 2), if Mary is depicted with the infant Jesus, the image of the Child is crowned, then the image of his Mother.

After the crown [crowns] has [have] been placed on the image [images], the following antiphon or another suitable song is sung. During the singing, the bishop incenses the image [images], then returns to the chair.

Mary, Virgin for ever, most worthy Queen of the world, pray for our peace and salvation, for you are the Mother of Christ, the Lord and Savior of all. [Easter season: Alleluia]

GENERAL INTERCESSIONS

After the singing, the Mass continues with the general intercessions, in the following or a similar formulary.

The bishop first invites those present to pray, saying:

Now let us humbly pray to God our Father, who has done great things for the Blessed Virgin Mary and continues his marvelous works in the Church.

Assisting Minister:

For the Church, that in unison with Mary it may proclaim the wonderful works of God and make his mercy known to all the nations, for he casts down the mighty from their thrones and raises up the lowly.
Let us pray to the Lord.

R. Lord almighty, hear us.

Assisting Minister:

For all the peoples of the earth, that under the impulse of the Holy Spirit they may be gathered into the one people of God under the rule of Christ the King.
Let us pray to the Lord.

R. Lord almighty, hear us.

Assisting Minister:

For harmony among nations, that through the prayers of the Queen of peace hatred may be laid to rest, wars ended, and all the earth enjoy prosperity and peace.
Let us pray to the Lord.

R. Lord almighty, hear us.

Assisting Minister:

For those who endure illness, poverty, loneliness, imprisonment, or persecution, that the blessed Virgin, the Queen of mercy, may strengthen and encourage them with a mother's care.
Let us pray to the Lord.

R. Lord almighty, hear us.

Assisting Minister:

For all here present, that, recognizing the unique dignity of the blessed Virgin, we may try to imitate her humility and spirit of service and daily love her more and more.
Let us pray to the Lord.

The bishop concludes the intercessions with the following prayer.

Lord God, through the prayers of blessed Mary, ever Virgin, whom you have given us for our mother and queen, grant that we too may share in the fullness of your grace.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

After the incensation of the gifts, the altar, and the cross, the bishop may also incense the image [images]. Then the minister and the people may be incensed. The Mass continues as usual.

CONCLUDING RITE

Antiphon or Song

After Mass one of the following antiphons or another suitable song in honor of Mary is sung.

1. Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you we cry, the children of Eve; to you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this land of exile. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; lead us home at last and show us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus: 0 clement, 0 loving, 0 sweet Virgin Mary.

2. Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae; vita, dulcedo et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae. Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte. Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende. 0 clemens, 0 pia, 0 dulcis Virgo Maria.

3. We turn to you for protection, holy Mother of God. Listen to our prayers and help us in our needs. Save us from every danger, glorious and blessed Virgin.

4. Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, sancta Dei Genetrix; nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta.

5. Ave, Regina caelorum, ave, Domina angelorum, salve, radix, salve, porta, ex qua mundo lux est orta.

Gaude, Virgo gloriosa, super omnes speciosa; vale, 0 valde decora, et pro nobis Christum exora.

6. Loving mother of the Redeemer, gate of heaven, star of the sea, assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise again. To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator, yet remained a virgin after as before. You who received Gabriel's joyful greeting, have pity on us poor sinners.

7. Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti, surgere qui curat, populo: tu quae genuisti, natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem, Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.

During the Easter Season

8. Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia. For Christ, your Son and Son of God, has risen as he said, alleluia. Pray to God for us, alleluia.

During the Easter Season

9. Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia, quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia, resurrexit sicut dixit, alleluia; ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

English text © ICEL