As the sacrifices of Lent have given way to the radiant light of Easter, what a blessing it is to now emerge from the desert, renewed and transformed.
Inspired by Saint Maximilian Kolbe’s encounter with our Lady, who offered him two crowns (the white crown of a life of heroic virtue, and the red crown of martyrdom), I wish to present three crowns from Mary we can wear this Easter season.
Though invisible, these are palpable tools that I believe will help us live the Easter season with hearts overflowing with gratitude and proclaiming the Good News.
The First Crown: The Crown of Hopeful Rejoicing
Mary’s Easter joy wasn’t a fleeting emotion; it was a deep, abiding hope rooted in her unwavering faith. This hopeful disposition is the first crown Mary offers us during Easter.
The late Pope Francis, in reflecting on hope during His Holiness’ 2017 TED Talk, reminds us that it is “the virtue of a heart that doesn’t lock itself into darkness, that doesn’t dwell on the past, does not simply get by in the present, but is able to see a tomorrow.”
The core message of hope is that it is not about ignoring the challenges of life, but about choosing to focus on the light of Jesus’ victory, which is a light that shines even in the darkest of times.
I particularly remember one Easter season when I was facing a difficult personal challenge in my family. Multiple health crises hit us left and right and threatened to overwhelm us. The joy of the Resurrection felt distant and almost unattainable. It was in those moments of doubt that I turned to Mary and remembered her unwavering hope.
I realized that hope wasn’t just a feeling; it was a choice. A recurring, daily choice.
This Easter season, our Lady gives us the crown of hopeful rejoicing and invites us to celebrate the Resurrection with open hearts. Through this crown she also encourages us to let go of our doubts and fears and embrace the joy of new life: Jesus!
Personally, I have found that when I turn to our Lady, either by reciting a Hail Mary, gazing at an image of her, or listening to Marian hymns, I regain a sense of hope which does not disappoint.
The Second Crown: The Crown of Overflowing Love
The second crown our Lady offers is that of overflowing love. Her love for Jesus, and for all of humanity, was boundless. It overflowed from her heart, touching the lives of all who encountered her.
Take, for instance, the Wedding Feast at Cana, and her interceding for the wedding hosts with our Lord to provide necessary wine. This overflowing love, or charity, is the essence of the Easter season.
It’s a time to ponder the fact that Jesus’ love conquered death, and that same love offers us forgiveness and redemption. 1 John 4:19 reminds us, “We love because he first loved us.”
I’ve found that cultivating this overflowing love requires a conscious effort to connect with the Heart of Christ. For me, spending time in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a powerful way to do this. It’s in those quiet moments, gazing upon the Real Presence of Jesus, that I feel His love most deeply.
And this is a love that is unconditional and accepts me just as I am.
As I experience this love, it naturally overflows and prompts me to share it with others. Practically speaking, it might be as simple as offering a kind word to a stranger, or it might involve a more significant act of service. As we do this, we begin to understand what true love really is—a love that is generous, forgiving, and transformative, a love that reflects the very Heart of God.
The Third Crown: The Crown of Radiant Joy
The third crown our Lady offers to us is that of radiant joy.
One of her titles in the Litany of Loreto is that of “Morning Star,” which is the quintessential example of her role as a beacon of hope that guides us to Christ. Her interior light shines forth, illuminating the path to salvation, and when we walk that path, we behold the light of Christ which dispels the darkness of sin and death. Psalm 118:24 proclaims, “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Easter is the day of rejoicing.
For me, sharing this joy often begins with small acts of witness. It’s about living my faith authentically and not being afraid to share my love for God with others. Along with that, it’s found in letting my joy shine forth and reflecting the love that I’ve found in Christ.
One Easter Sunday, when I was living as a cloistered Carmelite nun, the sunrise in our monastery garden reminded me of the new day brought by the Resurrection. Sharing this simple beauty with a bedridden Sister brought light to her day. This Easter, we are called to be beacons of light, sharing the Resurrection’s joy and reflecting Christ’s love. It’s about living a life that radiates the Risen Lord.
Three Crowns Offer Transformative Grace
These three crowns—hopeful rejoicing, overflowing love, and radiant joy—are not separate entities, but rather interconnected threads brought together to bring more color to the Easter joy.
They are the gifts Mary offers us—not of earthly grandeur, but of transformative grace.
So, this Easter season, let us embrace that future with hope. Let us not be afraid of the joy, but rather welcome it as an opportunity to encounter God, to discover our true calling, and to share the love that makes us truly radiant.
And as we live the Easter season, may we shine forth, like Mary, with the love of Christ, ready to illuminate the world.
Take a few minutes to reflect on the following questions:
- Where in my life am I being called to a deeper hope? What doubts or fears am I holding on to that I need to release to God?
- How can I allow the overflowing love of Christ to transform my interactions with others? What concrete actions can I take to share His love with those around me?
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How can I let my light shine forth this Easter season? What gifts or talents can I use to share the joy of the Resurrection with the world?
As we pray to receive these sublime crowns of hope, love, and joy, may we keep our chins up and remember that we are daughters of the Most High King.
OnyebuchiMaria “O'Maria” Akpati is a Nigerian-American Catholic, true beauty advocate, high-octane speaker, writer, digital storyteller, communications consultant, social media influencer, and soon-to-be author of Growing Godfidence: Discover The Theology of True Beauty. She resides near Washington D.C. and, when not communicating about beauty through digital media, she is likely found drawing calligraphy, kickboxing, cooking gut-healthy meals, singing Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphony in her nearby parish's schola, sewing modest clothing and priest vestments, or strengthening her gifts in hospitality and real estate development. She can be found online here or here.
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