The Virgin Mary as Queen of the Prophets

What is a Prophet?

In biblical context, a prophet is someone who:

• Receives divine revelations from God
• Proclaims God’s messages to the people
• Foretells future events
• Calls humanity to repentance and obedience to God

Examples include Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Jonah, Amos, Malachi, Elijah and Samuel, who anointed Israel’s first kings. Moses is the greatest prophet of the Old Testament.

In the New Testament, St. John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus and was identified by Christ as the greatest among those born of women.

“Amen I say to you, there hath not risen among them that are born of women a greater than John the Baptist.” — Matthew 11:11, Douay-Rheims

Why is the Virgin Mary Called Queen of the Prophets?

Mary is called Queen of the Prophets for two primary reasons:

1. She is the Fulfillment of Prophecy
   As the Mother of Jesus Christ—the fulfillment of all prophecy—Mary stands at the center of the divine plan of salvation.
2. She is a True Prophetess Herself
   Through her apparitions and messages to humanity, Mary continues to proclaim divine truths. She is not merely a recipient of prophecy but a prophetic figure herself.

Mary as the Fulfillment of Biblical Prophecies

In the first book of the Bible, God spoke this prophecy:

“I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel.”— Genesis 3:15, Douay-Rheims

The woman who would bear a child is also mentioned by the Patriarch Jacob, who foretold that the Messiah, a great King, would come from the tribe of Judah. Mary descends from this tribe.

“The sceptre shall not be taken away from Juda, nor a ruler from his thigh, till he come that is to be sent, and he shall be the expectation of nations.”— Genesis 49:10, Douay-Rheims

“Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel.”— Isaiah 7:14, Douay-Rheims

The virgin mentioned by Isaias the Prophet is the Blessed Virgin Mary, who gave birth to Emmanuel—“God with us.” Micah also foretold that He would be born in Bethlehem:

“And thou, Bethlehem Ephrata, art a little one among the thousands of Juda: out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be the ruler in Israel: and his going forth is from the beginning, from the days of eternity.”— Micah 5:2, Douay-Rheims

“Therefore will he give them up even till the time wherein she that travaileth shall bring forth: and the remnant of his brethren shall be converted to the children of Israel.”— Micah 5:3, Douay-Rheims

The Fathers of the Church interpret Ezekiel’s vision as symbolic of Mary’s Perpetual Virginity — a gate facing east that remains closed, untouched before, during, and after Christ’s birth:

“And he brought me back to the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary, which looked towards the east: and it was shut.

And the Lord said to me: This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall pass through it: because the Lord the God of Israel hath entered in by it, and it shall be shut.

For the prince. The prince himself shall sit in it, to eat bread before the Lord: he shall go in by the way of the porch of the gate, and shall go out by the same way.”— Ezekiel 44:1–3, Douay-Rheims

Apocalypse (Revelation) Chapter 12 contains a prophetic vision closely tied to Mary:

“And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars:And being with child, she cried travailing in birth, and was in pain to be delivered.”— Apocalypse 12:1–2, Douay-Rheims

This vision symbolizes Mary as the Mother of Christ and the Church, engaged in spiritual warfare against the dragon — Satan — who seeks to destroy her offspring.

Mary as a True Prophet

Mary’s life reflects that of the prophets:

• Like Moses, she intercedes for God’s people.
• Like Elijah, she is associated with miraculous events.
• Like Jeremiah, she issues warnings of divine chastisement.
• Like St. John the Baptist, she calls humanity to conversion.

Mary’s prophetic voice is most clearly heard in her Magnificat:

“Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.”— Luke 1:48, Douay-Rheims

Throughout history, the Virgin Mary has continued her prophetic mission through apparitions. These appearances contain messages of repentance, prayer, sacrifice, warning, and prophecy.