Fifth Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of Our Lady as Queen of Heaven and the Glory of all the Saints

When viewing the mysteries of the Rosary through the eyes of the Blessed Virgin Mary it is not difficult to discern why some of them are called glorious. When Our Lady witnessed the Resurrected Christ she saw her son returning triumphant from a great battle. At his ascension she marvelled at his elevation above all things, from where he sent forth the Spirit as guarantor and guide of his newly-won kingdom. But in these Glorious Mysteries were do not solely encounter Our Lady as a spectator but equally as a participant. For at Pentecost the apostles were gathered around her and through her assumption into Heaven she entered the Divine Bliss where she was crowned queen to reign with her Divine Son for all eternity. Yet, in the Fifth Glorious Mystery it is not only Our Lady who is shown as a recipient of Heavenly glory: attending her coronation as the Queen of Heaven sit all the saints; God’s justified called up to reign with him for ever and ever. (Revelation 22:5)

This destiny is for all God’s faithful. The Fifth Glorious mystery contains then the promise of our future glory. However, as we humbly look forward to these heights which God has destined us we remember that the great victory which gives birth to this destiny is Christ’s saving Passion and Death upon the Cross. As St. Paul says, ‘if we are to share Christ’s glory we must also share his sufferings’ (Romans 8:17) In our present day trials we can turn to this final glorious mystery and find waiting for us the gift of hope. As we witness Our Lady’s coronation let us ask that the fruit of our contemplation might be the perseverance to walk the narrow path of Calvary to the mansions of Heaven.