In Catholic tradition, May is devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of God. May presents the opportunity to celebrate our love and reverence for the Blessed Mother through feasts, processions, and song. One well-loved Marian hymn refers to Our Lady as “Queen of the May.”
Due to Mary’s vocation as the Mother of God, she has been given a special place of honor in Heaven and, as many saints have attested, Her requests are never refused. This is most advantageous for the faithful because from the cross Our Lord gave His Mother to us as our own. Mary has a maternal love for us and as our Mother, She is concerned with our well-being and spiritual progress. We are filled with humble gratitude to Jesus for giving us His Mother and to Mary for Her loving solicitude.
Let’s explore the significance of this month dedicated to The Blessed Virgin Mary, focusing on the many ways we can join the Church in honoring Her.
Why is May Dedicated to the Virgin Mary?
The early Church celebrated a major Marian feast day in the middle of May, most likely in response to the pagan festivals of fertility designated for this month. Over time May was held by the faithful to belong to Our Lady. but the formal dedication of May to Mary came about in the eighteenth century. Father Latomia, a Jesuit in the Roman College of the Society of Jesus initiated it to bring a spirit of holiness to the college in response to infidelity and immorality among the students at the time. The devotion spread quickly to other Catholic colleges and churches, and several popes adopted and encouraged it throughout the entire Church.
One of the most cherished traditions during this month is the May Crowning ceremony. This event recognizes the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Queen of Heaven and Earth. In many Catholic communities, parishioners gather to adorn statues of Mary with floral wreaths, offering prayers and hymns as a gesture of love and respect. The May Crowning is also a personal expression of love for Mary as the Queen of our hearts.
Key Catholic Feast Days in May
May is full of liturgical celebrations. Some of the notable feast days in May include:
May Crowning is traditionally known to take place on May 1st but can be celebrated any day of the month. A statue of the Blessed Virgin is crowned with a garland, or crown of flowers, honoring Mary as “Queen of the May.”
St. Joseph the Worker, on May 1st, celebrates the husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus.
The Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, on May 13, celebrates the Marian apparitions in Fatima, Portugal in 1917 to three young shepherd children.
The Ascension of the Lord celebrates the bodily ascension of Jesus Christ into Heaven 40 days after Easter.
The Feast of Mary, Help of Christians, on May 24, holds special significance for the Salesian Order and its founder, St. John Bosco.
The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on May 31, highlights the joyous encounter between Mary, carrying the Christ Child, and Her cousin Elizabeth, the expectant mother of St. John the Baptist.
Catholic Saints and the Blessed Virgin Mary
Myriad saints and pious souls have held a profound devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Here we shall look at just a few of them: St. Louis de Monfort, St. John Bosco, Pope Leo XIII, and St. Maximilian Kolbe.
St. Louis de Monfort, perhaps best known for his work, True Devotion to Mary, was a strong advocate for doing all things “by Mary, with Mary, in Mary, and for Mary; so that we may do them all the more perfectly by Jesus, with Jesus, in Jesus, and for Jesus.” He encouraged the faithful to see that just as Jesus had come to us through the Blessed Virgin Mary, we would do well to approach Jesus through His Blessed Mother. He saw Mary as the shortest, truest, and easiest way to Jesus, and that through Her, our love for Jesus would be perfected. This in turn would bring Him the greatest joy and pleasure. Along with other saints before him, de Monfort explained that by giving us His Mother, Jesus revealed His highest love, granting us, by Her intercession, the surest way to reach Heaven.
St. John Bosco, a 19th-century Italian priest, educator, and founder of the Salesian Order, was known for his unwavering devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. His life and work were profoundly influenced by his belief in Mary’s intercession and protection. Although he was met with many challenges in his ministry of educating and catechizing poor street boys, he was overwhelmingly successful in attracting many young people to the faith. Among his many accomplishments, he erected a church, which he placed under the patronage of Our Lady, Help of Christians, and he founded the religious order for women, Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians. St. John Bosco said, “All my work began with a simple Hail Mary for Our Lady’s help,” confirming that strong devotion to Mary is powerful for accomplishing great things for Christ.
Pope Leo XIII is known as The Rosary Pope, having written more encyclicals on the Rosary than any other pope. He was influenced by the writings of St. Louis de Monfort and granted an indulgence to anyone who consecrated themselves to Mary using the de Monfort method. Pope Leo encouraged unwavering fidelity to the Blessed Virgin, wrote prayers in Her honor, and held Her to be the Mediatrix of all grace. His promotion of Marian devotion is influential to this day as a guide to greater holiness through Our Blessed Mother.
St. Maximilian Kolbe, a Franciscan friar and martyr, was deeply devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary throughout his life. He is well-known for founding the Militia Immaculata (the Knights of the Immaculate), a movement dedicated to promoting Marian consecration and spreading devotion to Her Immaculate Heart. He once said, “If anyone does not wish to have Mary Immaculate for his Mother, he will not have Christ for his Brother.” Our Lady appeared to St. Maximilian offering him a crown of purity or a crown of martyrdom. He chose both and died a martyr, loving God, the Blessed Virgin, and his neighbor.
8 Ways to Grow in Devotion to the Virgin Mary this May
Here are a few ideas to help you dedicate May to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- Consecrate yourself to Mary. Many saints consecrated themselves to Jesus through Mary, including St. John Paul II. There are several different methods you can choose from, including Preparation for Total Consecration according to St. Louis de Montfort, or 33 Days to Morning Glory: A Do-it-Yourself Retreat. St. Maximilian Kolbe has a version of consecration as well, outlined in the book Preparation for Total Consecration.
- Pray the rosary every day.
- Learn about the different titles of Our Lady and the prayers that accompany them.
- Honor the mothers in your life. Whether it’s your biological mother, a spiritual mother, or a grandmother, send them a card expressing your gratitude and love on one of the Marian feast days in May.
- Go on a pilgrimage to a Marian shrine or grotto. Lourdes in France, Fatima in Portugal, and Guadalupe in Mexico are a few examples of places where the faithful gather to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary. You can also visit one of the many Marian shrines in the US, in your own state, or maybe in your local parish.
- Memorize Scripture verses that highlight the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- John 19:26-27
“When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.”
- Luke 1:30-31
“And the angel said to her, ’Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.’”
- Acts 1:14
“All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.”
- Place an image or icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary in your home. Add a picture next to it of a loved one for whom you’re asking Her intercession.
- Lastly, strive to live a life that reflects the virtues of the Virgin Mary. Seek to imitate Her “fiat” by saying yes to God in your own life.
Further Reading on the Blessed Virgin Mary
Many books have been written to honor the Blessed Virgin and provide valuable insights for those interested in deepening their understanding of Marian devotion. Below are a few examples and excellent starting points for further study.
- True Devotion to Mary, by St. Louis de Montfort, is considered by many to be the greatest single book on Marian spirituality ever written. This new edition includes an expanded Preparation for Total Consecration with readings and prayers.
- The Glories of Mary, by St. Alphonsus Liguori, is an in-depth work in defense of Marian devotion. It is a classic work including theological teaching from the Fathers and Doctors of the Church along with the saint’s own pious thoughts on the Blessed Virgin.
- The World’s First Love (2nd edition), by Archbishop Fulton Sheen, presents a moving portrayal of the Blessed Virgin Mary that combines deep spirituality with history, philosophy, and theology.
- Under the Mantle, by Fr. Donald Calloway, is a practical book on Marian thought.
Prayers Honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary
There are many prayers dedicated to honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Catholic tradition. Here are just a few that seek the intercession of our spiritual Mother.
The Hail Mary
Hail, Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
St. John Bosco’s Prayer to Mary, Help of Christians
Most Holy Virgin Mary, Help of Christians,
how sweet it is to come to your feet
imploring your perpetual help.
If earthly mothers cease not to remember their children,
how can you, the most loving of all mothers forget me?
Grant then to me, I implore you,
your perpetual help in all my necessities,
in every sorrow, and especially in all my temptations.
I ask for your unceasing help for all who are now suffering.
Help the weak, cure the sick, convert sinners.
Grant through your intercessions many vocations to the religious life.
Obtain for us, O Mary, Help of Christians,
that having invoked you on earth we may love and eternally thank you in heaven.
Hail Holy Queen
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
our life, our sweetness, and our hope.
To thee do we cry,
poor banished children of Eve.
To thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this, our exile
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving,
O sweet Virgin Mary.
Morning Offering to Jesus through Mary
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day
for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart
in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world,
for the salvation of souls, the reparation of sins, the reunion of all Christians,
and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father this month.
Amen.
Morning Consecration to Mary
Begin with the Hail Mary….
My Queen, my Mother, I give myself entirely to you.
And to show my devotion to you I consecrate to you this day
my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole being without reserve.
Wherefore, good Mother, as I am all yours,
keep me and guard me as your property and possession. Amen.
To Jesus through Mary
May, a month sprouting with blossoms and all things green, provides a fitting backdrop for honoring the Blessed Virgin, whose fruitfulness as the new Tree of Life brought salvation to the world. The feasts, prayers, and processions of this month provide many opportunities for us to deepen our understanding and devotion to Mary, and through Her, to Her Son. As St. Louis de Monfort reminds us, “When we say Mary, She says Jesus.” As we are taking in the beauty of the month of May, let us focus on the most sublime of God’s creatures, the Virgin Mary. Let us consecrate ourselves to Her and imitate Her virtues, so that through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we may live more perfectly for Christ.
