Queen Mother: A Biblical Theology of Mary's Queenship.

Queen Mother A Biblical Theology of Mary's Queenship WRITTEN BY Edward Sri PUBLISHED BY Emmaus Road Publishing, Steubenville, OH, 2005, ISBN: 1931018243, Softcover, pp. 216, $15.00 USD 

This elegant book demonstrates the scriptural basis of the queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which Catholics normally know through Tradition, the Magisterium, the liturgy, popular piety, and art. The book contains a foreword, introduction, four compact chapters, detailed footnotes and a bibliography (no index). The scholarly content is happily matched by a straightforward style of writing.

Drawing upon Old Testament texts, especially from Genesis, Kings, Psalms, and Isaiah, the author establishes the importance of the queen mother in the Davidic kingdom. It was the mother of the king and not his wife who shared in the king's rule. The queen mother was a high-ranking official in the royal court, an advocate for the people, and an influential counselor to her son. For example, the status of Bathsheba is comparatively humble as the wife of King David. She bows with her face to the ground in the presence of her husband (3 Kings 1:16-17, 31). However, her status assumes a majestic dignity when she becomes the mother of the next king, Solomon, who rises to greet her, bows, and has her sit on the right of his throne. When Bathsheba asks a favour, King Solomon replies, "Make your request, my mother; for I will not refuse you" (3 Kings 2:19-20).

The author also uses New Testament texts to show Mary as a royal mother figure. The first chapter of Matthew establishes the Davidic context of the Saviour's birth. When the Magi come to adore the newborn King, Mary takes centre stage: "... they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him" (Mt. 2:11). The first chapter of Luke includes the Annunciation, emphasizing that Mary is betrothed to a man of the house of David (1:27) and that her Son is to be regal (1:32-33). In the Visitation (Luke 1:39-45), Elizabeth's greeting contains further connotations of royalty specifically referring to Mary: "And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" Biblical scholars debate the meaning of Revelation 12 (e.g., "a woman clothed with the sun"), but Sri thinks this woman represents both the Church and the Blessed Virgin Mary. The "crown of twelve stars" on her head denotes royal authority and victory.

Sri cautions the reader not to confuse the royal dignity of the Mother of God with views of queenship based on abstract metaphysics or Western political monarchies. Her reign, like that of her Son, is not of this world.