Scripture: "All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers." (Acts 1:14)

St.Vincent: "Although Mary was neither a priest nor an apostle, she applied herself to God's kingdom so much that she surpasses all the Apostles. For that reason the Church salutes her as Queen of Apostles.

Our Constitutions: "The Founder gave the Congregation as patron the Immaculate Virgin, Queen of the Apostles. Mary, who gathered the Infant Church around her in the Cenacle, is for us a model of prayer, complete openness to the gifts of the Spirit and apostolic commitment. (#9)

Vatican II's Decree on the Laity tells us: "Perfect model of this apostolic, spiritual life is ... Mary, Queen of Apostles.... She remained intimately connected to her Son and cooperated in an entirely unique way in the Savior's work." St. Vincent had noted years earlier" "Mary, after Jesus Christ, is the perfect model of ... zeal and charity."

St. Vincent had a life-long devotion to Mary, his Most Beloved Mother. For him she was the way to get to know her Son. He would say, "True devotion to Mary consists in imitating her Son and learning from her how to imitate Him." If it is in imitating the life of Jesus that we learn how to be true apostles, then devotion to Mary must be part of our Pallottine apostolic spirituality.

In giving us Mary, Queen of Apostles, as our patroness, Vincent was placing his trust in Mary's unfailing love for her Son and those who follow Him. All apostles have a patroness in Mary. Perhaps that is why, in commissioning a painting of Mary in the Upper Room at Pentecost, he had the artist include two women among the apostles. For us, these women represent other disciples. They also remind us of our closeness to Mary and assure us of her powerful intercession for us.