MAY
Mary, Our Queen and Mother
May is the month of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a time to honor her as our Queen and Mother. We honor her not for her own sake, but because she is the perfect model of faith who always points us to Jesus. Discover beautiful traditions like the May Crowning and the Rosary to grow closer to her this month.
The Queen of May
As the world awakens to the new life and beauty of spring, the Church dedicates the month of May to the most beautiful and revered of all God's creatures: the Blessed Virgin Mary. This tradition, known as the "Month of Mary," is a time for us to give special honor to the woman whose "yes" to God brought our Savior into the world.
We honor Mary not as we honor God—for worship (latria) belongs to Him alone—but with the highest honor, hyperdulia, because of her unique role in salvation. She is the Mother of God, the first and most perfect disciple, and the spiritual mother given to each of us by Jesus Himself from the Cross.
A Mother Given to Us
At the foot of the Cross, in His final moments, Jesus looked at Mary and His beloved disciple John and said, "Woman, behold, your son." Then to the disciple, He said, "Behold, your mother" (John 19:26-27). In that moment, Mary became the mother of all the faithful.
She is our most powerful intercessor. At the Wedding at Cana, she noticed a need and turned to her Son, saying, "They have no wine." She then gave the servants, and all of us, the perfect guide to prayer: "Do whatever he tells you" (John 2:3-5). This is her role: to notice our needs, to bring them to her Son, and to teach us to follow Him more closely.
How to Honor Mary This Month
This May is a beautiful invitation to renew your relationship with our Blessed Mother.
Pray the Rosary
This is the quintessential Marian devotion. If you don't pray it regularly, May is the perfect time to start, even if it's just one decade a day.
Participate in a May Crowning
Many parishes, including our own, have a beautiful tradition of "crowning" a statue of Mary with a wreath of flowers. This act symbolizes our love and veneration for her as our Queen.
Create a "May Altar" at Home
It's a simple and lovely tradition to set up a small table in your home with a statue or image of Mary. Adorn it with fresh flowers and light a candle there as you say your family prayers.
Pray the Angelus
This traditional prayer, said at morning, noon, and evening, calls to mind the Annunciation—the moment Mary's "yes" changed the world.
Prayers of Marian Devotion
The Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among 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.
The Hail, Holy Queen
(Salve Regina)
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!
A Closing Thought
Mary is never the destination; she is the surest and fastest path to the destination, which is the heart of her Son. This May, let us draw close to our mother, confident that she will always lead us to Jesus.
A Closing Thought
Mary is never the destination; she is the surest and fastest path to the destination, which is the heart of her Son. This May, let us draw close to our mother, confident that she will always lead us to Jesus.