The month of May is a special time when Catholics honor the Blessed Virgin Mary with prayers, crownings and processions. While several months throughout the year observe Marian celebrations, May is known as the Month of Mary.
Honoring Mary during May began as early as the 13th century, when specific days in May were devoted to Mary. May is also associated with spring and new life, which Mary represents as the mother of Jesus, who gave the world new life through his death and resurrection.
Father Latomia of the Roman College of the Society of Jesus in Rome is credited with dedicating May to the devotion of Mary. He intended to prevent immorality and redirect students’ attention to the devotion of Mary. This practice spread from Rome to other Jesuit colleges and finally throughout the whole Church.
In 1815, Pope Pius VII encouraged May devotions by granting an indulgence to those who honored Mary with special prayers during May. In 1859, Pope Pius IX made the indulgence plenary. Then, in 1945, Pope Pius XII made the observance of Mary in May official.
There are several Marian feast days in May, contributing to the month-long celebration in honor of our Blessed Mother.
Depending on when Easter falls on the liturgical calendar, some Marian days that might occur in May include the first Saturday of May, the Saturday after Ascension (Our Lady, Queen of Apostles) and the Monday after Pentecost, which celebrates Mary, Mother of the Church.
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The Catholic Church honors Mary with many devotions. Early in May, statues and paintings of Mary are crowned with flowers or, sometimes, simple gold trim. This tradition began sometime in the 1600s when Pope Clement VIII added two crowns to the Salus Populi Romani, a painting of Mary holding the Child Jesus.
In 1838, Pope Gregory XVI reinstated the crowning of the image during the Feast of the Assumption, popularizing the practice of crowning icons of Mary. Churches in the West later adopted the practice during the 19th century, often using flowers to crown statues of Mary. Crowning is a physical depiction of Mary as the Queen of Heaven and Earth, the Queen of May, Queen of the Apostles and the Queen of the Universe.
Also in May, there are processions in honor of Mary, a tradition that often includes crownings. It is a public expression of devotion that involves carrying a statue of the Blessed Mother through the streets of the parish or near the Church. The crowned statue is carried back to the Church while people sing hymns or recite the Rosary.
The Rosary is a scripture-based Marian tradition that, when recited every day during May, shows deep devotion and honors Mary. Pilgrimages to locations of Mary’s apparitions are also customary traditions during the month of May.
Catholics honor Mary with prayers and processions to show reverence because she is the mother of Jesus. But veneration is not the same as worship. It holds the Blessed Virgin in high regard while recognizing that she is not divine like her son.
Those who venerate Mary have a deep respect for her place in God’s plan. They recognize her holiness and see her as a mother figure of the Church. Mary is a model of faith because of her obedience, humility, and complete trust in God.
There are several ways you can make Marian devotions to the Blessed Mother more personal in May. Here are a few ideas to help you get started.
During May, set aside time to pray the Rosary daily. You can pray the Rosary while you get ready for work, while you walk or exercise, or as you’re preparing dinner.
Find a quiet place in your home where you can pray daily. Put an image or statue of the Virgin Mary in that place and keep your rosary there. Make the space a part of your prayer routine while you ask the Blessed Mother for her intercession.
Spring is the perfect time to plant a garden dedicated to Mary. Give each flower you plant an intention so when it blooms in the garden, it blooms in your heart as well. If you don’t have space for planting, try to keep fresh flowers in your home or on your Marian Shrine throughout the month.
The Hail Mary, Memorare, Magnificat and Rosary are all prayers you can say to honor Mary in May. But you can also devise your own personal prayer to Mary, thanking her for guidance, asking for her intercession, or just praying for peace.
Marian devotion is a significant part of Catholicism. During May, you can show your love for and veneration of Mary in several ways. Take time to reflect on Mary’s faith and her role as the mother of Jesus and the Church’s spiritual mother. As a role model of faith, Mary lovingly brings your prayers to her son, Jesus.
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