Three Arguments For The Actual Queenship Of Mary, Rather Than The Mere Metaphorical

"Jesus Christ is King of the universe, even as man, in virtue of His Divine Personality. But Mary as Mother of God made man belongs to the hypostatic order and shares in the dignity of her Son, for His Person is the term of her divine motherhood. Hence she shares connaturally, as Mother of God, in His universal Kingship. Our Blessed Lord owes it to Himself to recognise His Mother’s title in gratitude.

A second argument is that Jesus is King of the universe by His fulness of grace and by the victory which He won over Satan and sin by His humility and His obedience unto death, ‘For which cause God hath exalted Him...’ But Mary was associated with His victory over Satan, sin, and death by her union with Him in His humiliations and sufferings. She is therefore really associated with Him in His Kingship.

The same conclusion may be arrived at by considering the close relationship in which Mary stands to God the Father, of Whom she is the first adoptive daughter and the highest in grace, and God the Holy Ghost through Whose operation the Word took flesh in her womb.

It has been objected that the mother of a king, the queen-mother, is not by that simple fact queen in the strict sense of the term: she has nothing of royal power. Neither then has Mary. We have answered this objection already. There is no parity between the two cases. A queen-mother is simply the mother of a child who later became king. But Mary is the mother of Him Who from the instant of His conception is King of the universe by His hypostatic union and His fulness of grace. Besides, Mary was associated closely with the victory by which He obtained universal kingship as a right of conquest, even though He possessed it already as Son of God. Mary is therefore associated with His Kingship in a true, even if in a subordinate, manner."

-Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday!

She occassionally reads my blog, so leave her a birthday greeting in the event that she stops by today.

Happy Birthday Mom! I hope you have a great day today! Thanks for all you do.

The History of The Term "Co-Redemptrix"

"All these things developed from the Pontiffs and the theologians, and a terminology was created in which Mary is soon called the 'spiritual Mother of men, Queen of heaven and earth'; in other ways, 'New Eve, Mediatrix, Dispensatrix of all graces,' and indeed, 'Co-Redemptrix'...To that which pertains to the title, 'Co-Redemptrix,' and 'Associate of Christ the Redeemer,' some things must be added.

Already in the tenth century, the title of 'Redemptrix' was used: 'Holy Redemptrix of the world, pray for us.' When in the fifteenth and sixteenth century, this familiar title was used, already an immediate cooperation of the Blessed Virgin in the work of our Redemption was recognized, and to the name, 'Redemptrix' is added 'co,' and therefore the Mother of God was called, 'Co-Redemptrix,' while Christ continued to be called, 'Redeemer.' From that time to the seventeenth century, the title Co-redemptrix was brought into use not only in devotional works of piety and holiness, but also in a great number of theological tracts. This also pertains to the Roman pontiffs, as it has occurred in certain texts of St. Pius X and Pius XI..."

-From the first schema on the Blessed Virgin Mary presented to the Council Fathers of Vatican II on November 23, 1962, as quoted in the book "With Jesus": The Story of Mary Co-Redemptrix by Dr. Mark Miravalle.

In My Mailbox

I just received my copy of Dr. Brant Pitre's dissertation Jesus, The Tribulation, and the End of the Exile: Restoration Eschatology and the Origin of the Atonement!

It's too bad I won't be able to read it until the break. In the meantime, I am reading Dr. Hahn's dissertation, Kinship By Covenant: A Biblical Theological Study Of Covenant Types And Texts In The Old And New Testaments.

So many great books to read, so little time in our short lives!

Man, I love being a Catholic and a Theology Major!!


Oh, and Jason...when I get my PhD, then I will get a dannygarland.com!

My Trip To The National Basilica Of The Immaculate Conception

Saturday, I journied to Washington, D.C. to partake in the Reconsecration of the United States to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary. It was a wonderful experience. The mass was beautiful and the Basilica was amazing! Below are a few of the over 50 pictures I took:

Christ on a Celtic Cross. For obvious reasons, this is my favorite picture!

This isn't a painting. It is made entirely of mosaic!



This is the statue of Mary that was processed in.















This is one of the domes of the Basilica that is made entirely of Mosaic. They are working on another dome, that when completed, will be the largest mosaic in the world.











This is a long shot from the back of the Basilica. (By the way, it was completely filled for the reconsecration mass!)

Two outside shots of the Basilica. (In the left picture is the head of Fr. Jose, a wonderful priest from India who made the journey with me.)







This is the actual Papal Tiara worn by Paul VI at his coronation and the stole that John XXIII wore to open the Second Vatican Council!

I'm trying to find the text to the homily given by Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR. It was truly splendid. If anyone comes across it, please point me in its direction!

O, Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary: Ora Pro Nobis!

Salvation By The Cross

"The Mother stood near the Cross for this: that the restoration of mankind would correspond with the collapse of the world. As the fall of the world was accomplished by two, but especially by a man, so the salvation and redemption came about from two, but especially from Christ; for whatever excellence Mary has, she recieved from Christ, not only on account of a certain proper harmony, but also on account of the eminent capacity of Christ in redeeming, a capacity which with his mother (whose works He needed least of all) He wished to share as co-redemptrix, not only without her dishonor, but with the great glory of Christ Himself."

-Fr. Alphonsus Salmeron, S.J.

Hans Urs Von Balthasar's Three Laws For Christian Anxiety

Law #1:
Christianity is intent upon and capable of delivering man from sin-anxiety, provided that he opens himself up to that redemption and its conditions. In the place of sin-anxiety, it provides him with anxiety-free access to God in faith, love, and hope -which, however, because they stem from the Cross, can in and of themselves put forth a new, grace-filled form of anxiety that stems from catholic solidarity and shares in Christ's work of atonement.

Law #2:
Insofar as we are sinners and even as believers can always become sinners anew, the anxiety of sin is not simply taken away from us by the objective act of redemption on the Cross but rather is set before us even in the New Testament. We are permitted to leave sin-anxiety behind us to the degree that we appropriate in truth the living faith offered to us from the Cross, that is, a faith active in our lives. However, even when the grace of sharing in the anxiety of the Cross is granted, the distance between the one who suffered is maintained in its entirety, and the anguished soul is aware of it.

Law #3:
God grants a (mystical or even usual) participation in the anxiety of his Son on the Cross to no believer unless he has first granted to him the entire strength of the Christian mission and joy and the entire light of faith, love, and hope -that is to say, unless he has first taken from him the anxiety of sin. To consider a "synthesis" of both to be possible, or even worth striving for, does not conform to sound Christian doctrine.

Quote Of The Day

"The metaphysics of crap!"

- Dr. Miravalles’s explanation of Richard McBrien’s theology of Mary (and basically all of his theology).

A Great Story

From CNA:

Back in August Catholics and non-Catholics alike were dismayed to hear the story of a priest who was issued a parking ticket while rushing to administer the Sacraments to a hospitalized woman. Several people responded with prayers, donations, and words of support for the priest and his ministry, but none had quite the same effect as 6-year old Brandon Rodriguez.

Young Rodriguez was at the family dinner table in Kissimmee, Florida listening to his father and mother recount the story of Fr. Cletus Forson--ticketed by the city of New York while he made an emergency hospital call to what he thought to be a dying woman. Despite Fr. Forson’s placing a “Clergy on Call” placard in his window before rushing into the hospital, city officials ticked his vehicle alone among the many others left by hospital employees.

“I was very upset and sad,” Rodriguez’s father Izzy told CNA. In the middle of dinner, Brandon suddenly jumped out of his seat and ran to his room, returning with a t-shirt sagging with change and his suitcase.”

“How much do I have?” Brandon asked.

Knowing what his son was up to, Rodriquez told him he had enough to do whatever he wanted.

Brandon replied, “I want to go to New York and help the Father!”

Rodriguez didn’t think much of the idea until the next evening when he returned from work. Walking into the house from the auto shop he runs, Rodriquez was confronted by an insistent Brandon, “So, when are we leaving to New York?”

With that, Rodriguez’s wife Karen booked a flight for father and son and soon they were off.

Priestly Inspiration

The Rodriguez pair met with Fr. Forson at his Brooklyn parish, offering their moral and spiritual support. Izzy also gave the priest a check which more than paid for the ticket.

But Fr. Forson told CNA that the financial support was not the most moving part of the story. “This 6 year old Brandon who came and said, ‘well Father, carry on and good job,’ that short sentence of encouragement…does more for me than the money they came to give.”

The priest added that the wave of support he has received from around the nation has greatly moved him. “Its certainly revitalizing,” he said. “It gives me a sense of hope and strength that I’m not alone in my ministry; there are people out there who support the ministry that I’m doing.”

Fr. Forson is ordained for a diocese in Ghana, Africa, and is helping out at a Brooklyn parish while he works on his doctorate. He said that although the city went ahead with charges, he has nonetheless been inspired by the whole event.

“There has been so much said about the ticket… on our side, the story has been closed. For me it’s a time to go ahead with vitality and hope that in spite of everything there are people out there who still value the work that we do as priests. In the midst of all the notes from among Catholics there are also not-Catholics who have spoken in favor of what I did. That really gives me and other priests a sense of edification.”

If anyone is not surprised by the event, it’s Brandon’s parents. The elder Rodriquez boasted to CNA that “We have an awesome 6 year old son and are we blessed…Brandon is just a giver with God in his heart.”

He recounted that Brandon, who is an asthmatic, “blesses his little brother every night with the sign of the cross on his forehead. He donates toys he buys on his own” to local charities and he “has collected over $3000.00 for the Children’s Miracle Network in Orlando Florida--all on his own.”

Prayer For Renewal Of Consecration

Below is the prayer for the renewal of consecration to Our Patroness of the United States of America the Immaculate Conception which will take place this Saturday at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception at noon:

Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in Heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as Your spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as Your Mother; in union with Mary, we adore your majesty and acknowledge Your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.

Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to you. Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this land and for the freedom, which has been its heritage. Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our president and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the poor, the tempted, sinners—on all who are in need.

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, Our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give our country and ourselves to your Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary pierced by the sword of sorrow prophesized by Simeon save us from degeneration, disaster and war. Protect us from all harm. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, you who bore the sufferings of your Son in the depths of your heart be our Advocate. Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the Will of your Divine Son, we may live and die pleasing to God. Amen.

If you want to come out to the event the address is:
400 Michigan Avenue, NEWashington, DC 20017-1566

See You there!