“For this is the month during which Christians, in their churches and their homes, offer the Virgin Mother more fervent and loving acts of homage and veneration; and it is the month in which a greater abundance of God’s merciful gifts comes down to us from our Mother’s throne.” – Pope Paul VI, “Mense Maio,” an encyclical on prayers during May.
In one calendar year, there are 18 feast days for Mary, three of which are holy days of obligation, i.e. Solemnity of Mary, Jan 1; Assumption, Aug 15; and Immaculate Conception, Dec 8. The month of May – the Marian Month – is also dedicated to Mary, and Catholics honor throughout the month with special services, prayers and devotions, and in other ways befitting the Blessed Mother.
Why May for Mary?
A look at history reveals an answer to why Mary is celebrated in May. In ancient Greece and Rome, May was customarily dedicated to Artemis and Flora, the goddesses of fertility and spring, respectively. Christianizing the pagan customs, the Catholic Church united the Jesuit Order’s month-long devotion to the Blessed Mother with the springtime month, a time of natural and spiritual renewal.
Some popes established special feast days for the Mother of Jesus. In the 19th century, Pope Pius VII instituted a special dedication, the Feast of Mary, Help of Christians, on May 24, 1815. Pope Pius XII set May 31 as the Feast of the Queenship of Mary; this date later moved to Aug. 22 after the Second Vatican Council.
Additionally, the first apparition of Our Lady at Fatima, Portugal (the feast day is May 13) in 1917 affirmed Mary’s influence and message of peace and conversion as well as the significance of the month of May.
How to honor Mary this month?
Individually and in communion with other faithful, a myriad of ways to honor Mary can be done throughout the month. This May, be intentional about spending time with the Mother of God.
1. Pray! Say the Rosary each day. This can be said aloud or silently in church, at home, or wherever you are comfortable. Recite a novena, a specific prayer said for nine consecutive days for a particular intention. This could be as simple as “Mary, Mother of Jesus, be a mother to me now. Nurture love within me and move me to act in grace and mercy. Amen.” A complete consecration to Mary may also be completed. For this, consider the book, “True Devotion to Mary” by Saint Louis de Montfort, for daily prayer.
2. Attend a May Crowning. Many parishes hold a special Mass during which a crown of flowers is placed upon the head of a statue of Mary. This cherished devotion recognizes Mary’s spiritual status, honoring her as Queen of Heaven and Earth.
3. Plant a Marian garden. Similarly, flowers can be placed at Mary’s feet. Set a statue of Mary in the garden where it will be a focal point, and plant annuals like Zinnias and Marigolds around her. Perennials such as Forget Me Nots, Bleeding Hearts or Lily of the Valley may be included as well and will bloom year after year for Mary. A bench near the garden would make a prayerful sitting place, too.
4. Sing hymns to Mary. Create a playlist of all the traditional Marian songs. Listen to it on the daily commute to and from work or school or when you travel to visit family and friends this month. Some hymns to include: “Sing of Mary,” “Ave Maria,” “As I Kneel Before You,” “Hail Mary: Gentle Woman.” Also, take time to memorize the refrain and verses of a favorite Marian hymn to know it by heart.
5. Wear a Miraculous Medal and/or scapular. The Miraculous Medal originates from a vision St. Catherine Laboure received from Our Lady of Grace in 1830. The promise given to her was that whoever wears the medal would receive great graces. Similarly, a scapular bears promises bestowed by the Blessed Mother. The brown scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is most popular and conveys a sign of salvation:“Whoever dies wearing Our Lady’s scapular will not suffer eternal fire.”
6. Learn about Marian apparitions. Mary has appeared to the faithful at crucial moments throughout time. Witnesses have shared her messages of hope, healing and conversion, inviting believers to turn to God and be united to Jesus, her son. Discover the stories of the most famous and approved apparitions, including Our Lady of Guadalupe (1531), Our Lady of Lourdes (1858), Our Lady of Champion (1859) and Our Lady of Medjugorje (1981).
7. Act in faith. Be an outward example of faith and say yes to God. Show the depths of a devotion to Jesus through Mary with acts of kindness and works of mercy. Participate in a food drive, donate good clothing to a veterans’ shelter or women’s care center, visit a nursing home – whatever is God’s call to provide care and help others in need, act on it and do so with profound love and gentle kindness in honor of the Blessed Mother.
Sources:
Mense Maio (April 29, 1965) | Paul VI
Feast Days of Mary | Marians of the Immaculate Conception
Why is May called Mary’s month? – Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
9 Ways to Celebrate the Month of Mary - Good Catholic
A Guide to 10 Popular Marian Apparitions | Dynamic Catholic
Caption: Sunday morning light illuminates the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a stained-glass window at St. Bridget in Hobart. (Angela Hughes photo)
