And the temple of God was open in Heaven, and the ark of His testament was seen in His temple. And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars. - Apocalypse 11:19, 12:1
Heaven is opened. Our Most Holy Mother, invited by her Son, triumphantly enters in. 'Come and be crowned,' our Saviour says to her. Let us assist in spirit at this coronation. It is the eternal consecration of all the virtues, of all the dolours of Mary. It is the recompense which confers upon her the greatest power ever before imparted to a creature. All the kings of Juda gather round their well-beloved daughter. David dances for joy; the angels and archangels unite with Israel's sweet singer to chant the praises of their Queen. The virtues proclaim her glory; the principalities, powers, and dominations exult with joy; the thrones felicitate her who was the living and immaculate throne of the Most High. The cherubim salute her in a canticle of praise, and the seraphim declare her glory,' said Saint John Damascene. Finally Jesus comes, and, amid the plaudits of the whole Court of Heaven, places a crown on the brow of His Most Blessed Mother.
Jesus forgets nothing. All is crowned in Mary: her thoughts, her desires, her actions, her virtues, her merits - even her privileges, of which she had rendered herself most worthy by her constant correspondence with the admirable designs of God. The feast of the Coronation is a feast of justice.
Christian soul, this feast of justice ought to rejoice your heart! It is your Mother who is honoured, it is your Mother's triumph; and her triumph teaches us that we have a just God in Heaven, who, when the day of remuneration comes, will remember all. Therefore what signify the difficulties, sorrows, languors, and tribulations of our short lives? 'For the rest there is laid up for us a crown of justice which the Lord, the just judge, will bestow upon us in that day.' (2 Timothy 4)
O senseless souls who run after earthly goods, can you say this of the world you seem to adore or of the rulers of the world? They promise riches, pleasures, celebrity, love. Your whole soul is held in a state of tension by the toys of imagination, covetous desires, or other passions; your senses themselves are disturbed, your health is injured, your life is filled with intrigues, troubles, and meannesses. Humble yourselves, throw away earthly cares, else you will never be able to say, with the noble and fervent confidence of the true Christian: 'There is laid up for me a crown.' Crowns of gold or of roses, of honour or affection, often slip from your grasp just when you think you hold them most securely. And if you were able to obtain at once all the crowns of the world, you must bring them at last before the 'just Judge', who will, with pitiless hand, tear them from your brow and throw them down to rot where you received them. We cannot carry with us to heaven useless or hurtful ornaments. Our crown in heaven - our true crown - Will remain eternally on our brow and will never fade. 'And when the prince of pastors shall appear you shall receive a never fading crown of glory.' (1 Peter 5:4)
Feed yourself then, O my soul! on these deep and consoling thoughts. The all-just Rewarder of all faithful souls sees you and knows you. Despise the vain objects of worldlings and cling to the road that brings you to a crown of glory. It is a rough and difficult road. You will have to overcome obstacles, to leap over more than one abyss, to avoid ambuscades, to fight the enemy, to repair reverses and even defeats. Courage! Courage! All your marches, all your efforts, all your labours and combats are in God's keeping: 'For the rest there is laid up for you a crown.' You will say: 'If I could only march alone on the hard road leading to glory! But no! I must carry along with me this miserable body. It is a source of sin, and of sorrow, too. It obscures my sight so that I cannot see clearly what I ought to see; from it comes doubts, scruples, dryness, disquietude, chagrin, and anguish. From time and from nature it receives many blows and wounds. How many are the evils, both external and internal, of our sad lives!' Courage! Courage! All these are counted; all will be crowned. At once a champion, a pilgrim, and a martyr, you will be able to say with the great Apostle of the Gentiles: 'I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. For the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of justice, which the Lord, the just judge, will render to me at that day; and not to me only, but to them also who love His coming.' (2 Timothy 4:7,8)
- text taken from Jesus in the Rosary, by Father Jacques-Marie Louis Monsabre, O.P.