The Regina Coeli: Graces From The Queen Of Heaven

The Regina Coeli is a traditional Easter prayer for Catholics which translated from Latin is “Queen of Heaven” which is used in place of The Angelus prayer from Easter Sunday through to Pentecost Sunday.

My own prayer routine includes praying The Angelus and other Marian devotional prayers from memory at certain times of the day, namely at Noon and 6 in the evening. I must admit that my transition during the Easter season to the Regina Coeli is a challenging one because I cannot remember the prayer, especially the closing doxology.

The technology available today has helped me in this respect because I can look up the Regina Coeli prayer wherever I am from my smartphone or my computer. I have done that essentially daily since the Easter season began. Then I pray my other Marian devotional prayers from memory. It is a time during the course of the busy day to pause and reflect and ask Our Lady for help and motherly love.

The history of this prayer dates back to the 12^th century, according to “The Golden Legend”, St. Gregory was walking in a procession through Rome with an icon of the Virgin Mary which was painted by St. Luke The Evangelist. St. Gregory heard angels singing the first three lines of what is now the Regina Coeli, he added the fourth line to the prayer. It has been traditionally sung as a hymn as well, especially during the months of May and October dedicated to Our Blessed Mother.

Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia. / For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.

Has risen, as he said, alleluia. / Pray for us to God, alleluia.

Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia. / For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray. O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

(courtesy of EWTN.com ©2018)

In fact, Mozart wrote a few different arrangements using the Regina Coeli as inspiration and incorporated those lines into the score. The prayer has proceeded through history to inspire other songs and hymns as well.

It is a prayer that honors Our Lady and Our Lord, and during the Easter season it reminds me daily in a very profound way of the salvation won for me by Jesus in His Death and Resurrection. It reminds me of the glory that Our Lord wishes to share with me by bearing through the sufferings, wounds, and afflictions of my life.

The Victory of The Cross is evident in this prayer and that profound concept is reinforced for me in the morning, at Noon time, and in the evening. Some days are so turbulent that I need that sequential reminder to keep me focused on what truly matters.

Jesus even told us in the Gospel message to not worry about tomorrow, that today has its own set of challenges. Our Lord desires for us to be in the present and to live in the present moment with our eyes fixed on Him, and on how to serve others around us.

I think that is what resonates with me the most about the Regina Coeli, that Our Lord won our salvation already, so everything else will take care of itself. That knowledge guides me on days when fear, perplexity, or doubt creeps into my mind.

Our Lord also gave us His Mother, as Our Mother, and that has always been of great comfort to me. In my youth, attending Catholic school, I looked forward to the May Crowning where we, the students, conducted a “living Rosary” standing in the shape of the Rosary in the garden outside of the school.

I learned from a young age from my own Mom, that the Virgin Mary was there for me always to provide me with love, encouragement, and support. I have always had a deep relationship with Our Blessed Mother that has yielded all of those things that my Mom told me it would.

My mother passed away 15 years ago, and I prayed at that time and asked Mother Mary as Queen of Heaven to help guide my mother into the Kingdom of Heaven. I also confided in The Blessed Mother, that though my Mom was no longer here, I would always have Our Lady as my mother. It provided me great comfort and solace then, and it still does every day.

The Regina Coeli is a powerful prayer and reminder of the incredible love that Our Lady has for us as Our Mother, and for the love Our Lord has for us to save us all from sin and death.

I get into the habit of praying The Angelus, so I must admit, that change in prayer routine can be tough for me. However, I have come to realize the impact that the words of the Regina Coeli have had on my prayer life, my approach to work, and my willingness to be the light and joy of Jesus to those around me. I hope that your experience will yield those same results.

I pray that Our Lady will bless and guide you to Her Son through the prayer of the Regina Coeli. I pray that the Queen of Heaven intercede for your every need and intention. I pray that Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will bless you and your families with the love and peace that can only come from knowing, loving, and serving Him. May God bless you.