December 8

The Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the Franciscan Order

As Thomas of Celano tells us in his Second Life of St. Francis, “what is a very special source of joy is the fact that he chose her (Mary) as the Patroness of his order; and he entrusted to her shielding mantle his children whom he was to leave that she might guard and protect them unto the

end.”  In 1910 Pope S Pius X permitted the members of the three orders of St. Francis to add to the Litany of Loreto the invocation: “Queen of the Franciscan Order, pray for us!”  And in 1950 Pope Pius XII granted them a special feast, with a proper office and Mass, honouring Our Lady as Queen of the Franciscan Order.  The day chosen for this feast is Dec 15, formerly the octave day of the Immaculate Conception.  The children of St. Francis through the centuries have always distinguished themselves by their devotion to Mary and by their efforts to promote this devotion among the faithful.

 

A Salutation to the Blessed Virgin Mary by St. Francis of Assisi

Hail Lady, Holy Queen, Holy Mary Theotokos, who art the Virgin made church and the One elect by the Most Holy Father of Heaven, whom He consecrated with His Most Holy beloved Son and with the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete; Thou in whom was and is all fulness of grace and every good. Hail His Palace; Hail His Tabernacle; Hail His Home. Hail His Vestment; Hail His Handmaid; Hail His Mother And hail all you holy virtues, which through the grace and illumination of the Holy Spirit are infused into the hearts of the faithful, so that from those unfaithful you make them faithful to God.