"The Coronation"
"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."—(Apocalypse, XII, 1.)
Perseverance
"He that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved" (St. Matt. X., 22). Mary has entered into her reward, and is crowned with glory. We still are in the vale of sorrows, still tempted unto sin. "But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able: but will make also with temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it." (1 Cor. X., 13.) This thought should steady us in all our trials.
The world may tempt us with its vanities; the flesh may tempt us with its sensualities; the devil may tempt us with his pride; but neither world nor flesh nor devil will be stronger than God's grace that shall be ours in answer to earnest prayer.
O Mary, crowned with glory in Heaven, pray that we may be worthy to be crowned like thee!
We have woven our spiritual crown of roses at the feet of Mary, Queen, our Mother of Mercy, whom, after Jesus, we hail as our life, sweetness and our hope. Mourning and weeping and wandering in vale of tears, still hopefully have we cried to her, knowing that she, our powerful advocate in Heaven, will hear our heart-rending sighs and turn her eyes in love towards us poor banished children of Eve. And when our exile here below is ended the clement, the loving, the sweet Virgin Mother of Jesus, will show us the "Fruit of her womb."
Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, Help of Christians, Refuge of sinners, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
