Mary as queen in women’s month

The feast of Our Lady’s Assumption on August 15, as the patronal feast of South Africa is an important feature in Church life that perhaps is underutilised.

I am well aware that some parishes have an all-night vigil or pilgrimage in preparation for the celebration of the feast (which this year needn’t be transferred). But I’m not sure what the focus of the celebrations usually is and how it can be applied to family life. This is, after all, a core element and the basic building block of the Church as a whole and is the model for the African Church, given the image Church-as-family.

In August we also celebrate Women’s Day, which in fact has pretty well become Women’s Month, probably at the instigation of the media who find that a useful hook to hang all kinds of promotions on. So we, in the Church, can do the same.

The Family Life Desk uses hooks too, like the football World Cup and the theme for 2010 of Families Play the Game. So then August’s game-related family life theme is How Men and Women Play.

Mary is honoured in the Church primarily as Mother of God but has a whole litany of other titles too. She is queen; of heaven, of angels and saints, queen of peace and in the Litany of Loreto, queen of the family too.

As regular readers of this column know, I am actively promoting the idea of a family hour, ideally as a time for family members to spend together, praying and playing. This means sharing their thoughts and concerns, and working out solutions to family issues together as well as having some fun.

In our present social context, how is the notion of queen perceived? What is our attitude and experience around the word queen as a leader, an authority figure, a role model, a figure-head? We may think of Queen Elizabeth II of England, who in her 80s is still a very respected figure.

Or we may think of Queen Nandi, the mother of King Shaka, who overcame many obstacles, including exile, and is regarded by the Zulus as a symbol of hard work, patience and determination.

Lineage is important to many, but generally royalty does not command the same respect, almost veneration, as it did half a century ago. Our leaders, women leaders included, are now more likely to have achieved their position because of personal competence or influence rather than heritage.

It is accepted that women leaders tend to have more of a difficult time rising to the top and need to be even more motivated and inspired to achieve the goals they have set for themselves. Who the most respected woman leaders of our day are depends very much on politics, sometimes on economic achievements and at times too on other personal, possibly more feminine and/or humanitarian qualities.

Mother Teresa was a leader, but who would consider her a queen? Those whom she served and cared for might not use the term, but would understand the concept.

One of the aspects of the vocation of the laity, as the Church teaches us, is to share in the kingship of Jesus Christ. In practice that means guardianship, protection, defence, guidance and leading by example. Surely that applies to women too, women leaders, queens in our homes and our workplaces where we exercise that kingly role.

But that is where things get confusing. We women still like to be treated as queens, especially by those nearest and dearest to us, but then we ourselves might mean being spoilt with flowers and chocolates.

I believe that the whole topic of queenship could be a fruitful one for family discussion and sharing, and why not during this Women’s month? It is an opportunity to look to Mary as queen, as patron and as model; not just by virtue of her position, but also how she played the game and the example of her life that she provides for us. During Women’s month let’s make that reflection a priority and hopefully a source of joy.

Queen, assumed into heaven, patroness of South Africa pray for us. Queen of the family, pray for us.