May Crowning & Devotion to Our Blessed Mother Mary

Have you ever wondered why Mary has so many names, titles and feast days? It’s because she is the Mother of God and our heavenly mother as well. She is the star of the Saints and the most beautiful rose that you could ever find in any garden. Devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary originates in the earliest days of our Catholic Church and special devotions to honor Mary continue all over the world.
 
A few years ago, our four parish churches reinstituted the traditional Roman Catholic ritual of a “May Crowning” on the first Sunday in May. The ritual includes a procession with children, a hymn, a devotional prayer and the crowning of a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary with a wreath of flowers. We recognize Mary as Queen of Heaven, Queen of Earth and Queen of Peace. It is a beautiful and heart-warming ritual!
   
Why is Mary called the “Queen of May”? Throughout the year, there are close to 40 feast days honoring Mary! The month of May has so many because toward the end of the 18th century, Rome dedicated the month of May to our Blessed Mother. From Rome, the May devotion spread throughout Jesuit colleges, and eventually throughout the whole church. May also marks several feast days to honor our Blessed Mother:
 
Our Lady, Queen of Apostles (the Saturday following the Ascension)
Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament (May 13)
Our Lady of Fatima (May 13)
Mary, Help of Christians (May 24)
Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces (May 31)
The Visitation (May 31)
 
Marian May devotions were also revitalized by the four, Church-approved apparitions of our Blessed Mother:
 
· 1830, Mary appears to St. Catherine Labouré in France, instructing her to have the Miraculous Medal inscribed, “Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”
· 1846, Mary appears to children at La Salette, France, and tearfully laments the lax practice of the faith.
· 1858, Mary appears to St. Bernadette at Lourdes, France, identifying herself as the “Immaculate Conception.”
· 1917, Mary appears to the three children at Fatima, Portugal, where she instructs the people to pray the rosary daily for peace.
 
“Father, you have given us the Mother of your Son to be our Queen and Mother. With the support of her prayers, may we come to share the glory of your children in the kingdom of heaven. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the, one God, forever and ever. Amen.”