CROWN POINT/MERRILLVILLE – As spring flowers emerge and warmth returns to the air, the beauty and surrounding life renews our souls with great joy and calls attention to a certain life-giving love – a mother’s love. In May, mothers are thanked, celebrated, and remembered for their care and devotion to their families. Thus, it is fitting that our spiritual mother, the Mother of Jesus, who is the purest example of selfless love, receives special veneration during this month.
May Crowning services offer families the opportunity to pay homage to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to spend time together, prayerfully sitting in her presence, saying a Rosary, and attending Mass.
“Our Lady watches over us, protects us and keeps us safe; ultimately, keeps us away from the influences of the devil,” said Father Kevin Huber in his homily during St. Mary parish’s May Crowning on May 5. That’s why each day, it is so important for us to draw close to her.”
Father Huber explained that customarily Catholics may pray at 6 a.m., noon, and 6 p.m., invoking Mary’s help and protection, but also asking her intercession for us to intimately know her son, Jesus.
“We often hear the words, ‘To Jesus, through Mary,’ and it really is the case,” Father Huber said. “We come close to her son through her maternal love and eternal intercession…. The reality is that she wants us to know her son in a very personal and very powerful way.”
To honor Mary, recognizing her as Queen of Heaven and Earth, a statue of her is crowned with flowers during the May Crowning. This year at St. Mary church, the special duty was given to first communicant Noah Amsler, grandson of Dale and Lynette Fredericks, who are “longtime members and amazing volunteers,” according to parish life director Suzie Hartman.
During the hour-long service, the congregation recited the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary and sung Marian hymns, including “On this Day, O Beautiful Mother,” “Hail Holy Queen,” and “Be Joyful Mary,” which is the English version of “Regina Caeli,” meaning “Queen of Heaven” in Latin.
Why a crown of flowers?
Today’s May Crowning practices draw from eighteenth-century origin when the convention of crowning images of Mary began and has Scripture-based inspiration.
“A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head,” as Revelation 12:1 portrays Mary.
The tradition of placing flowers on our Queen Mother’s head and at her feet commemorates this sign and her royal role as Queen of Heaven and Earth and is done with due reverence that is seasonally appropriate.
“What a beautiful gift it is to crown her as such…with real spring flowers that are equally beautiful,” emphasized Father Ted Mauch, pastor of Holy Martyrs and Our Lady of Consolation parishes. “We observe the May flowers and renewed life that the world bears. It’s appropriate to make a crown of flowers because she is the springtime of the whole Church, that new springtime in faith through Christ.”
Mary gave the first “yes” to Christ, Father Mauch added, indicating that through her wholehearted acceptance of God’s Will, she becomes for us the perfect example of humility, obedience, purity and love.
Director of Religious Education Marian Weeks, who coordinated Our Lady of Consolation’s May Crowning on Sunday, May 12, explained that using real flowers bound in ribbon suitably honor Mary.
“There’s nothing artificial about Mary,” Weeks said. “Mary is our mother. I think it’s important to honor her.” And this year it seemed apropos to Weeks to have May Crowning on Mother’s Day, welcoming all mothers and specially inviting the first communicants and their families to attend.
Debbie DeVault of Merrillville, who has a special devotion to Our Lady, especially after a “trip of a lifetime” pilgrimage to Medjugorje with her husband and St. Stephen Martyr church family 9 years ago, looks forward to May Crowning each year. “I love May Crowning!” she said joyfully. “It symbolizes our faith in Mary’s intercession as our mother in our hearts, our homes, and our world….Jesus could never say no to his mother.”
The DeVaults have a life size statue of Mary that stands in their front garden, as well as an authentic Our Lady of Fatima statue, which they keep in a prominent corner of their home with a bouquet of roses set before her.
“Every morning Jim touches Our Lady’s feet and tells her he loves her and asks her to pray for us,” Debbie DeVault said, describing his reverent actions before leaving for work. Of her own daily devotion, she shared that she has “coffee and prayers with Mary,” where she sits beside the Fatima statue and recites the Rosary, following a recorded version with Mother Angelica from EWTN. The DeVaults offer special intentions for family, health, and the poor souls in Purgatory in their prayers.
Our Blessed Mother receives an honored spot in many Catholic homes and hearts. Consider honoring Mary this May. Sing Marian hymns like “Bring Flowers of the Rarest,” present her with a bouquet or a single bloom, be in her presence at Mass, and give her your petitions in personal prayer – she can present them with a mother’s love to her son, Christ the King.
Caption: International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, formerly in the care of Blue Army custodian Eugene O'Brien, is kept holy reverence on display in the DeVault family's home. (Angela Hughes photo)