QUEEN OF PROPHETS, PRAY FOR US!

The Prophets were highly honored by both Jews and Gentiles on account of their holy lives, their great zeal for the Law of God, and their miracles and prophecies. They had to endure many sufferings and a number of them ended their lives by martyrdom. But above them all, in honor and in suffering, is Our Lady, whom Isaias and David call the "prophetess", "Virgin", "Mother of the Divine Redeemer", and "the King's daughter clothed in splendor". Animated by lively zeal, the Prophets put forth their whole energy to rescue the Israelites from temporal and eternal ruin. They fought against the vice of idolatry and immorality. Both Prophets and Israelites were longing and praying to God for the coming of Messiah, born of the Virgin Mother: "Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just: let the earth be opened, and bud forth a saviour (Isa 45: 8). Mary, the Virgin Mother, is likened in this passage to the "earth opened" for she brought forth, fed and raised Our Redeemer. Like God's Prophets, Mary was predestined to suffer: "And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed." (Luke 2, 34.35). Mary have sacrificed her own Son to rescue sinners. If she could have spared Him without injury to our redemption, she would willingly have sacrificed her own life. And now, enthroned in heaven, so great is her love for us that she is ever active in rescuing sinners from danger and in saving their souls.

Oh, Queen of Prophets, help us to imitate the Prophets and your own example. They never sought the world with its pleasures, but God alone. They were willing to suffer for Him in their zeal to save souls. Teach us to be zealous for the honor of God and for the salvation of our souls and that of our neighbor. Help us to realize that the most divine of all divine things is to labour with God for the salvation of souls.

Part of the text adopted from Inter Mirifica