By Fr. Anthony Adetayo

The new statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was ceremonially crowned for the first time in Ave Maria Pilgrimage Center, Iwopin, Ijebu on Friday 3^rd February 2023 during the opening Mass of the annual Diocesan Marian pilgrimage.

Though Mary’s statue is usually crowned in the month of May, it can be done anytime as well when situation requires it like the case of the Diocesan pilgrimage. Crowning of Mary is a ritual celebrated where an image or statue of Mary is crowned with a wreath of flowers or a crown and honored as the Queen of Heaven and the Mother of God. But this simple ceremony carries deep meaning for the Catholic faith. 

Both in the Eastern and the Western world, the practice of depicting the Blessed Virgin Mary wearing a regal crown came into use in the era of the Council of Ephesus (A.D. 431). It is especially from the end of the 16th Century that in the West the practice became widespread for the faithful, both Religious and Laity, to crown images of the Blessed Virgin.

The blessing and crowning of the statue at the new grotto took place after the homily. Abegunde Oyinkansola, an eight years old HCA girl received the crown from the Bishop of the Diocese; Most Rev. Francis Obafemi Adesina, and placed it on the head of the new statue. The Bishop incensed the statue and venerated it in the appropriate manner.

It was a beautiful ceremony as the large crowd was singing melodious Marian hymns knowing that they have been gifted with an avenue to seek the maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.