[5]
Reflections from the Religious Liberty Chairman
By Portland Archdiocese [6],
Every month, Archbishop Alexander K. Sample, chairman of the Committee for Religious Liberty, reflects on a pertinent topic related to religious freedom in the United States. Sign up for the First Freedom News newsletter [7] to receive monthly reflections from Archbishop Sample.
The Devotion to Mary as Queen of Peace
October 2026
Every month of October, the Church traditionally turns her eyes with special affection toward the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Rosary. Yet amid the distractions and pressures of contemporary life, Catholics are continually called to rediscover the spiritual riches found in devotion to our Blessed Mother. In an era marked by rapid change, technological advancement, and cultural uncertainty, Marian devotion remains a vital source of spiritual renewal and a pathway to deeper communion with Jesus Christ. This October offers us a timely opportunity to reclaim the beauty of Marian devotion and to remember why Mary, the Theotokos, the Mother of God, holds a unique place in the life of every Catholic and offers a powerful witness to authentic human dignity.
Our veneration of Our Lady is not an optional extra or a pious distraction from Christ; rather, it leads us directly to the heart of the Gospel. As the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council reminded us in Lumen gentium (paras. 52-53), Mary’s free consent at the Annunciation made her both the mother of God and the mother of Divine Grace (Lk 1:38). By accepting her role in the Incarnation, the Blessed Mother freely cooperated in God’s saving plan, and through her, Jesus Christ entered human history. Because Mary gave birth to the Head of the Mystical Body, she is also, by extension, the mother of the members of Christ, therefore, she is our mother. In giving us her Son, Mary demonstrates what true human freedom looks like: a total, loving “yes” (fiat) to God’s holy will. In Our Lady, we see the dignity of the human person revealed in a life freely and completely given to God
In our daily struggles, the titles assigned to the Blessed Virgin in the Church’s rich tradition serve as beacons of hope and spiritual strength:
- Seat of Wisdom (Sedes Sapientiae): In a world overwhelmed by ideological noise, digital distraction, and moral confusion, we need the clarity that comes from heavenly wisdom. Our Blessed Mother, who pondered all things in her heart (Lk 2:19), points us to the truth that sets us free (Jn 8:32).
- Mother of Good Counsel (Mater Boni Consilii): For parents navigating the primary duty of educating their children in faith amidst secular pressures, Mary offers steady guidance and maternal protection for the domestic Church.
- Help of Christians (Auxilium Christianorum): As Catholic schools, religious institutions, and individual believers seek to remain faithful to their mission amid legal and cultural challenges, Our Lady reminds us to place our confidence in Christ.
Among all her titles, none feels more urgent for our present moment than Regina Pacis—Queen of Peace. We live in a world that feels increasingly precarious, threatened by global conflict, ideological polarization, and the rapid development of technologies that can challenge our understanding of human dignity and responsibility. When human wisdom seems insufficient and anxiety about the future weighs heavily upon us, where should we turn?
We should turn to the Queen of Peace. Peace is not merely the absence of war (Gaudium et spes, no. 78; CCC, no. 2304); it is the tranquility of order brought about by the presence of Christ, the Prince of Peace. Mary brought Christ into the world, and she continues to lead us to Him, the source of true peace. When we pray the Rosary and seek her intercession, we align our hearts with the order of grace rather than the chaotic fears of our time.
As the month of October draws to a close, and as Chairman of the Committee for Religious Liberty, I bring this message to you. I urge every family, parish, and school to renew its devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, especially through the prayer of the Holy Rosary. Let us constantly invoke Regina Pacis for an end to war, for wisdom in managing new technologies, and for the protection of religious freedom across our nation and the world.
May we never hesitate to seek refuge under her maternal protection. Entrusting our families, our schools, our institutions, our work, and our nation to her Immaculate Heart, may she lead us ever more deeply to the Sacred Heart of her Son, Jesus Christ.
Regina Pacis, ora pro nobis! Cor Iesu Sacratissimum, miserere nobis!