Mary is our Queen

A few months ago, I re-watched an old video of our two oldest daughters taken during an evening prayer, when they were two and three years old... I could see the proud expression of the older one and the joyful and astonished look of her younger sister while they were reciting the Hail Marys together with their baby voices. This video brought back a memory of a moment of pure family happiness but also a memory of divine grace.

I believe that we are all children before the Blessed Virgin Mary. When I pray, I always say a prayer to Mary. When I am upset or fearful, I quickly say a few Hail Marys… for instance, I’m scared of flying, and a Hail Mary always calms my fears at take-off. It also helps me when I get angry–at least most of the time! Unfortunately, my pride sometimes gets the better of me…

I know three sung versions of the Hail Mary. Two of them are magnificent. I have sung them on pilgrimages to Chartres and Conques (Camino Route). The small miracle of the beautiful vibrations produced by several voices, even untrained, when we get to the verse "the fruit of thy womb" always touches me. I also recall processions in Lourdes: they will always remain engraved in my memory.

At the end of our wedding Mass, we sang "Chez nous soyez Reine" (Be Queen of Our Home). I love this song that tells us how much Mary is at home everywhere. Mary is our Queen, she reigns over the saints and the angels, at the feet of our Lord.

Charles Beigbeder, business owner