● August 20—St. Bernard of Clairvaux
He was a 12th century abbot and a reformer and Doctor of the Church. You may know the beautiful Memorare Prayer he composed:
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
● August 21—St. Pope Pius X
This Holy Father, who reigned from 1903 t0 1914, notably promoted the daily reception of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist:
“If the Angels could envy, they would envy us for Holy Communion.”
“My advice is that you receive holy communion frequently—if you cannot do so daily—and unite yourself to the Savior. Make frequent visits to him in the solitude and silence of the tabernacle.”
● August 22—The Queenship of St. Mary
Why do we celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary as a queen? In the days of the Davidic kingdom, Jerusalem’s kings took multiple wives. Who, then, was considered the queen? The king’s mother was acknowledged as queen mother. She had a throne at the king’s right hand, the seat of honor, and served as a special intercessor in the kingdom, bringing subjects’ requests to her son. (See 1 Kings 2:17-20)
St. Mary, our sweet Lady, is the mother of Jesus, the everlasting Davidic king whose reign extends over all. Therefore, in his Kingdom, Mary is the queen mother, the queen of heaven and earth, the celebrated queen of all creation. She now sits enthroned at Christ’s right hand and serves as a powerful and compassionate intercessor for us all.
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