Queen Mother: A Biblical Theology of Mary's Queenship

by Edward Sri, Scott Hahn (Editor)

A compelling, in-depth presentation of the gebirah, or "Great Lady," tradition in salvation history and its profound connection to the doctrine of Marys queenship. Edward Sri elucidates the common approaches taken to Marys role as Queen and demonstrates how the queen-mother theme in the Davidic kingdom can shed light on the presentation of Mary as heavenly Queen in the New Testament and in the Church. A challenging read that will bear much fruit for those seeking to grow in knowledge of Scripture. The Letter & Spirit Project aims to make studies of important themes in Sacred Scripture widely available to students, clergy, and laymen. The Project is sponsored by the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, of which Scott Hahn is founder and president.

Genres: Theology, Religion, Catholic, Faith

234 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2005

About the author

Dr. Edward Sri is a nationally-known speaker on Scripture and Catholicism and the author of several best-selling books. Besides teaching at the Augustine Institute, Sri is a visiting professor at Benedictine College and a contributor to the popular apologetics series, Catholic for a Reason. Sri is also a founding leader with Curtis Martin of FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students).

He also is the creator and host of a new 18-part video series on the Catholic faith for parish adult faith formation called Symbolon (Augustine Institute), and he serves the general editor of a Opening the Word: Journey through the Sunday Readings (Augustine Institute).

Dr. Sri leads pilgrimages to Rome and the Holy Land for lay people each year.

He resides with his wife Elizabeth and their six children in Littleton, Colorado.

Education
STD, Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Rome)
STL, Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Rome)
MA, Franciscan University of Steubenville

Reviews

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Queen Mother: A Biblical Theology of Mary’s Queenship" was written by Edward Sri, and is based on his doctoral dissertation under the direction of Scott Hahn. Sri uses a “salvation-historical” approach in his methodology, one that compares and contrasts Old Testament typologies with New Testament narratives. A central theme in the text is the Near Eastern and Old Testament concept of the queen-mother or “gebirah”. In Old Testament times, it was the king’s mother, and not his wife, who wielded power, influence, and reigned as queen. To demonstrate Mary’s reign as queen under the New Covenant, Sri uses the concept of the queen-mother as a backdrop to shed light on New Testament Marian narratives in Luke (The Annunciation, 1:26-38; The Visitation,1:39-45) and in interpreting the “woman clothed with the sun” in Revelation 12.

[Richard Grebenc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a dissertation, this is heavy duty theology. Recommended only for those who have theological training or a specific interest in Mary as Queen Mother. Expect to take it slow and check out the end notes as you go (over seventy pages worth so you will be flipping back and forth nearly continuously). An extensive bibliography will help the engaged reader find other sources of interest. Wonderful scholarship in this relatively short but dense work.

[Ray Camacho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, a must red for those that are looking for the truth regarding Mary in the Catholic Church!

[sch]

Dec 2024. Recommended by Seraphim Hamilton.

[Robert Corzine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was quite prepared to like this book after only a brief look in the bookstore. The quotes from the well-known Marian theologians on the back were impressive:

"Sri's scriptural examination of Mary's queenship in light of
the Davidic kingdom tradition is a welcome antidote against
frequent unidimensional historical reductions of Mary's person
and role. Mary is not a shadowy figure frozen in the distant past
but the 'eschatological icon' of salvationhistory."
--Fr. Roten from the International Marian Research Institute

"The biblical queen-mother tradition is of paramount importance
for our contamporary understanding of Our Lady's dynamic role of
spiritual queen and advocate for all humanity.Edward Sri offers
an outstanding synthesis of this Gebirah or 'Great Lady' biblical
tradition." --Dr. Mark Miravalle

Perhaps most intriguing was Dr. Scott Hahn's statement in the Foreword that Sri's study is important not just for Mariology but as a model for all biblical Theology. He writes, "An approach like this provides theologians with superior interpretive and explanatory power and has potential to heal historic divisions between scholars and the Church, between the academy and the seminary, and among the various separated Christian bodies...When we read the Bible in this way, we find no tension between letter and spirit -- between literary and historical study of scripture and faithful contemplation of its religious and spiritual meaning."

The book turned out to be even better than I was expecting. This is not a book of Catholic apologetics. It is also not a book about Marian spirituality or devotion. Nonetheless it will both strengthen your faith and deepen your devotion.

Dr. Sri carefully and systematically lays out the scriptural roots of the Queenship of Mary in the queen-mother tradition of the Old Testament Davidic Kingdom. He then shows how the New Testament draws on those themes and applies them to Jesus, the royal son of David, and to His mother, Mary.

This book is scholarly but still accessible to non-scholars. My one difficulty was that the publisher used endnotes instead of footnotes. There is so much good material in the notes (and there are over 50 pages of notes) but you have to keep flipping back and forth to follow it. I ended up just reading with my finger in the the proper notes pages and keeping two bookmarks in the book when I put it down; it's not too bad once you get used to it but footnotes would have been convenient.

[Kevin Bensema · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was organized almost like a conference paper, with the slightly redundant introduction, somewhat condescending related work, technical and well-argued "section three" and redundant conclusion. The author fuses historical and scriptural accounts of queen mother traditions to related the Queenship of St. Mary with the concept of Christianity as a restoration or renewal of the Kingdom of Israel - with Peter as the Steward of the Keys and (spoiler alert) Mary as the Queen Mother. The argument presented is clear and highly plausible, but not so strong as to be truly compelling.

[Betsy Hover · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was delighted to receive this book from Goodreads Giveaways!

Mary's Queenship is important as it explains and identifies her role as Queen of Heaven her role in God's plan of Salvation was not limited to her earthly life, and this book provides biblical evidence for Mary's role in Heaven.

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. I don't think one can say that he argues for a queenship for Mary from Scriptures, but he does gather excellent biblical data to show how some queen mothers held a regal position, such as Bathsheba in the reign of Solomon, and that a number of queen mothers' names are mentioned.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed review of references in Scripture regarding the Queenship of Mary. Dr. Sri gives detailed information and provides Scripture notations. Excellent book.

[Katharina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!! A must read for any Christian wanting to understand why Catholic Christians venerate Mary!!