Virgin, Mother, Queen

Rich in history, scripture, and Church teaching, Virgin, Mother, Queen is a quintessential and visually rich resource for those who want to understand how the more well-known of Mary’s many titles and attributes correspond with approved Marian apparitions across the globe.

Renowned Marian expert Robert L. Fastiggi and Michael O’Neill, “the Miracle Hunter,” team up to uncover little-known details about ten of the traditional titles of Mary—including Virgin, Blessed Mother, and Queen—and her appearances around the world since the time of Christ.

The earliest of Mary’s apparitions can be traced back to the first century of the Church and have continued into modern times, inspiring the faithful to devotion to her and to a deeper love of Christ her son.

In Virgin, Mother, Queen, popular radio and television host Michael O’Neill gathers fascinating details from Mary’s mystical appearances around the world. Robert Fastiggi, professor of systemic theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, answers questions about the historical and theological development of Marian teachings throughout Church history.

The ten, Church-sanctioned apparitions and their corresponding titles of Mary are:

* Virgin: Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexico, 1531)
* Mediatrix of Grace: Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (Rue du Bac, France, 1830)
* Mother of Sorrows: Our Lady of La Salette (France, 1846)
* Immaculate, All-Holy: Our Lady of Lourdes (France, 1858)
* Advocate: Our Lady of Hope (Pontmain, France, 1871)
* Blessed: The Knock Apparition (Ireland, 1879)
* Mother of the Church: Our Lady of the Rosary (Fatima, Portugal, 1917)
* Queen of Heaven: The Virgin of the Golden Heart/Our Lady of Beuraing (Belgium, 1932)
* Mother of Mercy: Virgin of the Poor/Our Lady of Banneaux (Belgium, 1933)
* Mother of God: Our Lady of Sorrows/Our Lady of Kibeho (Rwanda, 1981)

Virgin, Mother, Queen includes full-color illustrations and recounts in story and teaching why the apparitions and titles of Mary continue to be relevant today. Each chapter contains traditional prayers associated with these historic Marian shrines.

Robert L. Fastiggi is professor of systemic theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan, where he has served since 1999. He was professor of religious studies at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, from 1985 to 1999.

Fastiggi earned his master’s degree in theology in 1976 and his PhD in theology in 1987, both from Fordham University. He has authored, coauthored, edited, or coedited more than a dozen books. He was executive editor of the 2009-2013 supplements to the New Catholic Encyclopedia. His work has appeared in Our Sunday Visitor and The Priest, and he has been interviewed on EWTN, Catholic Answers, and Ave Maria Radio.

Fastiggi is a member of the International Marian Association, a council member of the Mariological Society of America, and a corresponding member of the Pontifical Marian Academy International.

Fastiggi and his wife, Kathy, are parents of three adult children. They live in the Detroit area.




Michael O’Neill is the host of Relevant Radio’s The Miracle Hunter.

He is the author of Exploring the Miraculous, 365 Days with Mary, and 20 Questions: Apparitions and Revelations. He has contributed to Mater Misericordiae: An Annual Journal of Mariology. He has appeared on NBC’s Today, The Dr. Oz Show, Fox and Friends, EWTN, and a number of radio programs.

O’Neill was the consultant for the National Geographic December 2015 cover story about the Virgin Mary and was interviewed as the Marian expert on the corresponding television piece for NatGeo Explorer. O’Neill served as the expert commentator during the 2010 live broadcast of the approval of the Marian apparition at Champion, Wisconsin, as well as EWTN’s coverage at the 100th Anniversary Mass of Our Lady of Fatima. He was the cohost of the television special Miracle Hunters on UpTV in 2015 and was a panelist for the twelve-part television series Mary, Mother of All on Shalom World. He is the creator and host of EWTN’s They Might Be Saints about the lives of future saints and the search for canonization miracles

O’Neill is a graduate of Stanford University and member of the Mariological Society of America and the Theological Commission of the International Marian Association.