The Queen of Heaven

The Queen of Heaven
Watercolor and ink
June 2010

Now, this one I really like. I tried again in LordShadowblade's sort of Art Noveau style, and this time I did a MUCH better job I think.

I also accomplished this in about a week, most of it sketching it out. Then I inked it all in one sitting, and colored it all in one day. I remember going through a lot of stress that week, and how this piece really helped to save me, Our Lady really acted to bring me peace.

The heart at top is the Immaculate Heart of Mary, pierced by the sword of sword of sorrow. The star is the morning star, a title for Our Lady. And the rose and lilies, the flowers for Our Lady, the Mystical Rose.

We meditate on the Queenship of Mary in the Fifth Glorious Mystery, after Mary is taken up to Heaven, and crowned the Queen of Heaven and earth. This feast day is celebrated on August 22.

I have a special devotion to Our Lady as Queen. She is the Queen of her beloved children here on earth, still fighting the good fight, and we fight here under the banner of our Mother. We are her beloved knights fighting for her Son, our God and King. She is the Queen of my heart.



Here are some prayers and quotes about Our Lady...

"And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars." Rev 12:1

Salve Regina
Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiae,
vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevae,
ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos
misericordes oculos ad nos converte;
et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve;
to thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us;
and after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

Ave Regina Caelorum
Ave, Regina Caelorum,
Ave, Domina Angelorum:
Salve, radix, salve, porta
Ex qua mundo lux est orta:

Gaude, Virgo gloriosa,
Super omnes speciosa,
Vale, o valde decora,
Et pro nobis Christum exora.

V. Dignare me laudare te, Virgo sacrata.
R. Da mihi virtutem contra hostes tuos.

Hail, O Queen of Heaven enthroned.
Hail, by angels mistress owned.
Root of Jesse, Gate of Morn
Whence the world's true light was born:

Glorious Virgin, Joy to thee,
Loveliest whom in heaven they see;
Fairest thou, where all are fair,
Plead with Christ our souls to spare.

V. Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O sacred Virgin.
R. Give me strength against thine enemies.

Regina Coeli
Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia:
Quia quem meruisti portare. alleluia,
Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia,
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.
Has risen, as He said, alleluia.
Pray for us to God, alleluia.

The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary (The Litany of Loreto)
V. Lord, have mercy on us.
R. Christ, have mercy on us.
V. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
R. Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.
Mother of Christ, pray for us.
Mother of divine grace, pray for us.
Mother most pure, pray for us.
Mother most chaste, pray for us.
Mother inviolate, pray for us.
Mother undefiled, pray for us.
Mother most amiable, pray for us.
Mother most admirable, pray for us.
Mother of our Creator, pray for us.
Mother of our Saviour, pray for us.
Virgin most prudent, pray for us.
Virgin most venerable, pray for us.
Virgin most renowned, pray for us.
Virgin most powerful, pray for us.
Virgin most merciful, pray for us.
Virgin most faithful, pray for us.
Mirror of justice, pray for us.
Seat of wisdom, pray for us.
Cause of our joy, pray for us.
Spiritual vessel, pray for us.
Vessel of honor, pray for us.
Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us.
Mystical rose, pray for us.
Tower of David, pray for us.
Tower of ivory, pray for us.
House of gold, pray for us.
Ark of the covenant, pray for us.
Gate of heaven, pray for us.
Morning star, pray for us.
Health of the sick, pray for us.
Refuge of sinners, pray for us.
Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us.
Help of Christians, pray for us.
Queen of Angels, pray for us.
Queen of Patriarchs, pray for us.
Queen of Prophets, pray for us.
Queen of Apostles, pray for us.
Queen of Martyrs, pray for us.
Queen of Confessors, pray for us.
Queen of Virgins, pray for us.
Queen of all Saints, pray for us.
Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us.
Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us.
Queen of the Family, pray for us.
Queen of Peace, pray for us.

V. Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
R. Spare us, O Lord.
V. Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
R. Graciously hear us, O Lord!
V. Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
R. Have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray. Pour forth, we beseech You, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that as we have known the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son by the message of an angel, so, by His Passion and cross, we may be brought to the glory of His Resurrection; through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

V. May the divine assistance remain always with us.
R. Amen.

We fly to thy patronage, O holy mother of God. Despise not our petitions in our necessities; but deliver us from all dangers, O ever glorious and blessed Virgin.

"Because the virgin Mary was raised to such a lofty dignity as to be the mother of the King of kings,
it is deservedly and by every right that the Church has honored her with the title of 'Queen'." ~ St. Alphonsus Ligouri

Pope Pius XII wrote an encyclical on proclaiming the Queenship of Mary instituting her feast on August 22 called "AD CAELI REGINAM". This may be read here. [link]

Following upon the frightful calamities which before Our very eyes have reduced flourishing cities, towns, and villages to ruins, We see to Our sorrow that many great moral evils are being spread abroad in what may be described as a violent flood. Occasionally We behold justice giving way; and, on the one hand and the other, the victory of the powers of corruption. The threat of this fearful crisis fills Us with a great anguish, and so with confidence We have recourse to Mary Our Queen, making known to her those sentiments of filial reverence which are not Ours alone, but which belong to all those who glory in the name of Christian. Pius XII Ad Caeli Reginam

“Behold the power of the Virgin Mother: She wounded and took captive the heart of God.”~ Bernardino of Siena

Let us pray with joy to this magnificent Queen, the radiant Mother of God, our own Mother. Let us surrender ourselves more deeply to her Divine Son through her powerful intercession, and bind ourselves more closely to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Long live the Queen!!!

O Queen of the Universal Church, pray for us!!