Lourdes Rosary Meditations #15

The Coronation of Mary

Again, two Old Testament women adorn the space above the archway. To the left is Queen Bathsheba, the Queen Mother of Solomon. He had placed his mother’s throne right beside his, and she sat and reigned from this privileged position. On the other side is Queen Esther, another valiant woman who saved God’s people from destruction. “The king loved Esther more than all other women, and of all the virgins she won his favor and good will. So he placed the royal crown on her head.” Both of these women in all their royal splendor pale in comparison to what is depicted below: the Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Like Bathsheba, She rules at the right hand of Her Son. “On the right stand the Queen in gold of Ophir,” we read in the Psalms. Like Esther, She is able to obtain great and many favors for the people of God, the Church, and even save them from destruction, for She it was that was prophesied long ago in Eden: She crushes the head of the serpent.

All of heaven and earth are gathered for this moment. The saints and angels above lift their voices and prayers to the Majesty of God and the honor of Mary, now enthroned. Below, men and women of every state in the Church, from Pope to pauper and from religious to lay, look on in wonder as the heavens open up and they see “on Her head a crown of twelve stars.” These words, taken from Revelation and found in the archway, emphasize that Her royalty and reign is not just of this world. It is over even the celestial powers. Like Her Son, from Whom She receives dominion, Her authority is universal.

This is why we see an interesting detail. The rays of light that emanate from the Heart of Christ descend upon the Church through our Lady. Just as He did in the Incarnation, Jesus still chooses to come to us through His Mother. We too should follow this path, coming to Jesus through Mary, as so many saints encourage us.

Is not this a perfect way to crown these Rosary mosaic meditations? With a reminder that Mary, our Mother and Queen, is the greatest intercessor with Her Son? Let us not fear to approach Him through Her, for both desire to have us in their heavenly company one day as saints. Jesus and Mary: make it so!

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Some interesting side notes. The Pope kneeling in the lower portion of the image is Pius IX. In 1854 he declared the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Just four years later, our Lady appeared in Lourdes and declared to St. Bernadette “I am the Immaculate Conception.” St. Bernadette is shown on the far left, kneeling with a candle. The two rays of light shine specifically on Pius and Bernadette.

As the Rosary Basilica at Lourdes was consecrated in 1901, and the mosaics were completed in the following years, Leo XIII and Pius X are also present to right of Pius IX.

Benoit-Marie Langenieux, Cardinal Archbishop of Reims, is depicted on the left in scarlet and ermine. He is the one who consecrated the Rosary basilica.

Saint Andre Bessette, seen in the black cassock near the center, was alive at this time, and is therefore depicted in the Church Militant below. He would of course later take up a place among the Church Triumphant above. He is likely depicted here because he was known for miraculous healings, just as the waters of Lourdes are.

Those ranking among the saints in heaven likely all have to do with the promotion of the Rosary through the ages. Chief among these, of course, is Saint Dominic on the left in black and white.

I could not find information on the others depicted here, but I am sure they are significant to the times of the apparitions and of the basilica’s construction.