Ever wonder why we have so many accounts of apparitions of our Lady and nearly none of our Lord Jesus'? Well, I think, that if our Lord makes an apparition - that could easily be mistaken as the "Second Coming", so we figure, Jesus wouldn't want to confuse anyone. So, why Mary His Mother? Believe it or not, we Catholics are not surprised that Mary our Mother is behaving as such, we are not surprised that we find our Lady tending to her son's flock, we were not surprised at all.
She is simply behaving as a Queen Mother - because that's what she is. So, what exactly is the role of a Queen Mother? In the Old Testament it was not the wives of the kings who were considered the queens, it was the mothers of the kings who were given the official title "The Queen Mother". In 1 Kings 2 we can see that it was the queen mother who sits closest to the king and who has the greatest influence over him. We can see how much respect and honour that the king shows towards his queen mother. In this chapter we read about Adoni'jah who approaches Bathshe'ba, the mother of King Solomon, and pleaded for her intercession to ask the king that he will be given permission to marry a certain woman who was in the service of the king. Bathshe'ba, not realising that behind that request was a plot to overthrow the king, consented and promised to speak to the king on his behalf.
So Bathshe'ba went to King Solomon, to speak to him on behalf of Adoni'jah. And the king rose to meet her, and bowed down to her; then he sat on his throne, and had a seat brought for the king's mother; and she sat on his right. Then she said, "I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me." And the king said to her, "Make your request, my mother; for I will not refuse you." ~ 1 Kings 2:19-20
We see that the queen mother is seated in the place of honour and can speak freely with the king and that the king reassures her that he will listen to her request. So it is with our Lord and our Lady. Our Lord, in His humanity, descended from the Kings of Judah, and now established as the "King of Kings" forever, has also established Mary as His Queen Mother.
In the story of Bathshe'ba & King Solomon, because Bathshe'ba was being deceived and because King Solomon saw the treachery of his enemies - that particular request wasn't granted. But it's not so with Mary who would only make those request and ask those intercessions for those things which are for the greatest glory of God. We recall that it was upon her request at the "Wedding at Cana" that our Lord worked His first miracle. So, now as she is in Heaven, forever in the presence of her son, continues her role as the Queen Mother by interceding on our behalf to the King, Jesus Christ.
We learned about typology and our Lord's prefigurement, as well as our Lady's, in the Old Testament from our article "Mary, the New Eve". Mary being, again, the New Eve, and Ja'el & Judith as Old Testament types of our Lady. Now, we learned Bathshe'ba being a type of Mary also, only this time as the New Queen Mother.
Just a few years ago, I wondered, why we have so many books in the Bible. The Bible itself answered my question - through typology. The Old Testament isn't just history books, these and the New Testament books are literally connected to each other - like a live organism. THE BIBLE IS ALIVE. The Book of Kings I & II's historical aspect teaches us about the type of Kingship our Lord Jesus Christ possesses. As people living today at this day & age, we would have no idea what it was like being in a kingdom back then and I must admit, without the Books of Kings, I would've been lost. The study of typology points to these books. HOW? In the New Testament, Jesus repeatedly speaks of a Kingdom, therefore He's a King - He has His "Royal Ministers" (12 Apostles) and their word is as good as the King's word - and whoever rejects them rejects the King. He gave us ways or instructions on how to enter His Kingdom. Jesus speaks of a Kingdom, therefore he's a King. "A KING!" - That, right there, is our signal - we now should turn to the Books of Kings to fully understand what a Kingdom is and how it works.
Our Church Fathers
“Majestic and Heavenly Maid, Lady, Queen, protect and keep me under your wing lest Satan the sower of destruction glory over me, lest my wicked foe be victorious against me.”
~ Deacon St Ephrem the Syrian (4th Century)
“the Queen of mortal man, the most holy Mother of God.”
~ Patriarch St Modestus of Jerusalem (AD 634)
“O my Lady, my Sovereign, You who rule over me, Mother of my Lord … Lady among handmaids, Queen among sisters.”
~ St Idelphonsus of Toledo (AD 669)
So, Mary as the New Queen Mother. Just as the queen mothers in the Old Testament, Mary tends to us, her son's flock, and intercedes for us. She brings us messages from the King, Jesus Christ, and brings our message to our King just as well.
