A Mother Who Leads Her Children to Christ
Our Lady, Queen of Nigeria
A Mother Who Leads Her Children to Christ
Our Lady, Queen of Nigeria, is a beautiful reminder that the Blessed Virgin Mary is not only the Mother of individual Christians but also a mother who intercedes for the people and families of Nigeria. Under this title, we entrust our nation to her maternal care and ask her to lead Nigeria closer to her Son, Jesus Christ.
Mary's queenship is not a reign of power or domination. It is the humble queenship of a mother who serves, loves, protects, and points her children toward God. At Cana, Mary noticed the needs of others and brought them to Jesus: “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5) This remains one of her greatest lessons for Nigeria.
Our nation has many gifts: talented young people, rich cultures, strong families, natural resources, hardworking communities, and a deep love for God. Yet Nigeria also faces challenges—division, insecurity, poverty, corruption, injustice, unemployment, and many forms of suffering. As we honour Mary as Queen, we are reminded that prayer must be accompanied by responsible action.
Mary teaches us to build a nation through faith, truth, justice, compassion, and service. She teaches parents to nurture their children in wisdom and faith. She teaches young people to place their gifts at the service of others. She teaches leaders the dignity of servant leadership. And she teaches every Christian that genuine devotion to her must ultimately bring us closer to Christ.
At the foot of the Cross, Mary remained faithful even in suffering. Nigeria, too, needs people who will remain faithful to what is right even when doing so is difficult. We can ask Mary to help us reject hatred and division and instead become instruments of peace, reconciliation, and unity.
As Queen of Nigeria, Mary invites us to place our nation under God's protection while also accepting our responsibility as citizens. We cannot simply pray for Nigeria and refuse to become part of the answer. Every honest act, every child properly educated, every neighbour helped, every injustice resisted peacefully, and every act of love contributes to the healing of our nation.
Prayer to Our Lady, Queen of Nigeria
To you, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our tribulation, and having implored the help of your most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke your patronage also.
Through that charity which bound you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood, and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities.
O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us
every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be kind to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness.
As once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your aid, we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven.
Amen.
Comments