"There _is_," somewhere in the heavenly courts, "a crown laid up for _me_." (2 Tim. iv. 8.) But "the Lord, the just Judge" will only give it me if "I have fought a good fight." (verse 7.) "To him that shall _overcome_ will I give to sit with Me in My Throne." (Apoc. iii. 21). "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." (chap. ii. 10.) "Hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown" (chap. iii. 11). All, then, depends on my efforts. I have got to be _faithful_, to _fight_, to _overcome_, and to _hold fast_. My consolation is that my Mother is interceding for me; my enemies are the same as hers, and she has overcome them. _Da mihi virtutem contra hostes tuos._ 2. She is crowned as a _Queen_. Her Son is the King of Heaven, and He crowns her as the Queen-Mother. "A throne was set for the King's Mother, and she sat on His Right Hand." (3 Kings ii. 19.) "The Queen stood at Thy Right Hand in gilded clothing, clothed round about with varieties." (Ps. xliv. 14.) Kings and Queens wear their crowns in token of their power and authority. JESUS crowned His Mother in token of _her_ power and authority. He made her Queen of Angels, of Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, Virgins, and gave her not only authority over all these, but also, in a certain sense, if we may say so reverently, over Himself. He allowed her still to keep the sweet authority which she had exercised over Him at Nazareth, when He was "subject" to her; for He says to her: "My Mother, ask, for I _must_ not turn away thy face." (3 Kings ii. 20.) How He loves us--even to the extent of pledging Himself to answer the intercessory prayer of one who He knows will make full use of her privilege--one who is even now turning to me, her child, and saying: "I will speak for thee to the King." (verse 18). Let me determine to have my share in this blessed compact between the Son and the Mother, by continually asking my Queen-Mother for her intercession. _Sancta Dei Genitrix, ora pro nobis._ 3. The Holy Ghost crowns her as His _Spouse_. "Come from Libanus, my spouse; come and thou shalt be crowned." (Cant. iv. 8.) "Faithful unto death" she had been; ever since her Immaculate Conception she had always listened to the least inspiration of grace which her Divine Spouse had suggested, and now she receives her reward, the "crown of life." The end is attained, and there is joy in the presence of the Angels of GOD. _Point II._--THE JOY OF THE ANGELS _De cujus Assumptione gaudent Angeli et collaudant Filium Dei._ At whose Assumption the Angels rejoice and praise together the Son of GOD. (_Introit for the Feast of the Assumption._) What were the causes of their joy? 1. Mary's joy at her re-union with her Son. 2. Her reception and coronation as their Queen. 3. Her being placed on the throne at her Son's Right Hand.