August 22, 2026
Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Gospel: Matthew 23:1–12

Today is Saturday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time. The Church celebrates the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The recently published Missale Romanum reminds us that Pope Pius XII instituted this feast in 1954, placing it at the conclusion of the then-observed “Octave of the Assumption.” We must remember that the Blessed Virgin reigns in heaven with her Son. Her royal dignity does not stem from equality with God, but from her divine motherhood. All her singular privileges flow from her identity as the Mother of God and her unique mission in the work of redemption.

Today’s passage from the Gospel of Matthew presents Jesus’ discourse to the crowds and His disciples concerning the scribes and Pharisees. Let us reflect on this teaching.

Jesus said to the crowds and to His disciples: “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, while they themselves will not lift a finger. All their works are performed to be seen by others. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.” (cf. Matt 23:1–5)

We know that the scribes and Pharisees were well-versed in the Scriptures. The Pharisees were experts in the Law of God and its interpretation. They taught the people through parables and, in expounding the Law, incorporated ancestral precepts, customs, and what they termed “the tradition of the elders.” They operated according to the logic of this world logic that demands a return equivalent to what is given. Consequently, they would only invite those they deemed close to them to share their meals. The scribes, likewise, interpreted Scripture according to their own whims, presenting themselves as the voice of God. They regarded themselves as righteous and utterly pure. Jesus commands us to observe the Law of God as expounded by them, yet warns us not to imitate their conduct, for they are hearers and teachers of the Word, but not doers.

On this Memorial of the Queenship of Mary, let us contemplate the virtuous example of the Blessed Virgin. Her life began with a fiat to the divine will. She continually pondered the Word of God and accompanied her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, with a spirit of contemplation, even to His death upon the Cross. After His Ascension, she remained with the Church, sustaining it by her prayer. Thus, she stands as the perfect model of one who fulfills the Law of God. On this memorial, let us together pray to the Lord:

O God, who made the Mother of your Son to be our Mother and our Queen, graciously grant that, sustained by her intercession, we may attain in the heavenly Kingdom the glory promised to your children. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

©Totus Tuus 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica