The Catholic Defender, "Our Lady Queen of the Angels" August 2

he Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary was established in 1954 by Pope Pius XII.

Mary’s queenship has many roots in Scripture. At the Annunciation, Gabriel announced that Mary’s son would receive the throne of David.

At the Visitation, Elizabeth calls Mary “mother of my Lord.” Mary is closely associated with Jesus and his kingship throughout her entire life.

August 2nd is the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels, also known as the Feast of the Portiuncula, which is a significant day for Franciscans around the world.

The title of "Our Lady Queen of Angels" refers to Mary's place of honor with her Son in the Kingdom of Heaven where Christ is King and Mary is Queen Mother. It is a place of honor because she is placed over the wonderful creatures of God called angels who serve as God's messengers and as guardians for individuals.

Franciscans around the world celebrate August 2nd as the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels, but as friars of a province named in her honor, we hold the day in special regard, as it is also our Patronal Feast Day.

August Queen of Heaven, sovereign Mistress of the Angels, thou who from the beginning hast received from God the power and the mission to crush the head of Satan, we humbly beseech thee to send thy holy legions, that under thy command and by thy power they may pursue the evil spirits, encounter them on every side,

Being Queen of Heaven, the first title of Her royal prerogatives is "Queen of Angels," an astounding title as we consider the unspeakable beauty and majesty of these sublime creations of God. Angel means "one going" or "one sent," hence a messenger.

When St. Francis had his conversion, he set about repairing three chapels. The third was popularly called the Portiuncula or the “Little Portion,” dedicated to St. Mary of the Angels.

The chapel and the land belongs to the Benedictines. The friars came to live at the Little Portion in early 1211. It became the “motherhouse” of the Franciscans. This is where St. Clare came to the friars to make her vows during the night following Palm Sunday in 1212 and where Sister Death came to Francis on Oct. 3, 1226.

The Benedictines wanted to give Francis the church but in order to remain faithful to Lady Poverty, Francis rented it from them with the annual compensation of a basket of fish from the Tescio river — a rent which is continued to be paid until this very day. It is now enclosed in a basilica at Assisi.

St. Francis of Assisi persuaded Pope Honorius III to grant a plenary indulgence to all those who visited the Portiuncula on August 2 and confessed their sins. This indulgence has been extended to all churches, especially those held by Franciscans, throughout the world.

The feast day celebrates the founding of the Portiuncula, a small chapel in Assisi that was originally named "Our Lady Queen of the Angels" and was home to the Franciscan family. The chapel was very important to St. Francis of Assisi, who called it the Portiuncula, or "Little Portion", and considered it the birthplace of the Franciscan Order. 

The feast day is also the Patronal Feast Day for the Franciscan Friars Conventual – Our Lady of the Angels Province, which includes over 220 friars who serve in ministries in the United States, Italy, Japan, and Australia. Celebrations can be live or virtual. 

The feast day also includes the Portiuncula Indulgence, which is a way to focus on the importance of Mary and the Franciscan tradition in the Church. During the first two days of August, visitors to the chapel can receive a plenary indulgence, which is the elimination of temporal punishment due to sin. 

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