By Christina Gray
The Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco hosted its first ever solemn Mass and coronation of Mary as “Queen Mother” Aug. 18. The bi-lingual parish event attended by more than one thousand people was a special day of liturgical worship and celebration commemorating the Feast of the Assumption of Mary on Aug. 15.
Cathedral pastor and rector Father Kevin Kennedy was the principal celebrant and homilist for the solemn liturgy, every element of which celebrated Mary as “the new Eve” in her unique role in the Paschal Mystery of the passion, death and resurrection of her Son, Jesus Christ, “the new Adam.”
“There is a beautiful image of Our Lady as the inexhaustible fountain, the inexhaustible chalice,” Father Kennedy said, describing an icon of Mary at Our Lady of Fatima Byzantine Catholic Church on Geary Blvd., where he also serves as pastor.
“She’s regal, she’s a queen,” said Father Kennedy. He described an “altar of sacrifice” emanating from her, and on that altar, a beautiful chalice and her Son as a child, adorned in gold.
“He is a king, the king of all. She is the queen. And she has prepared from herself this altar table, an altar of sacrificial love. She has given from her flesh and blood, the flesh and blood of her Son as living food and drink. Not the food of deceit and evil and foolishness, but of life, of truth, of wisdom, of goodness and beauty itself.”
Following the homily, the entire focus of the sanctuary moved to the Assumption shrine on the west side of the sanctuary for the coronation ceremony. Here, a majestic, 1.5 ton bronze sculpture by Italian sculptor Enrico Manfrini conveys the rewards of Mary’s discipleship as angels carry her bodily into heaven.
White-gloved Knights of Columbus led the congregation to the candlelit shrine where the Mary sculpture was draped in a gown of Marian blue. Father Jerald Geronimo climbed the curving staircase behind the sculpture and tenderly laid the crown upon the Blessed Mother’s head. Young girls in white dresses and veils tossed rose petals at her feet as “Ave, Maris Stella” was sung.
At the end of the Mass, a multi-cultural festival of food and dance was held in Patrons Hall.
Christina Gray is the lead writer for Catholic San Francisco magazine.
