May, The Month of Mary

Honoring Mary

Crowning of Mary at the Saturday Mass on May 25th, 2019.

May is the Month of Mary. For centuries, the Catholic Church has set aside the entire month of May to honor Mary, Mother of God.  Not just a day in May, but the entire month.  

In medieval times, similar customs abounded, all centering around the practice of expelling winter, as May 1st was considered the start of new growth.  During the medieval times, the tradition of Tricesimum, or “Thirty-Day Devotion to Mary,” came into being. Also called, “Lady Month,” the event was held from August 15-September 14 and is still observed in some areas.

The idea of a month dedicated specifically to Mary can be traced back to baroque times.  Although it wasn’t always held during May, Mary Month included thirty daily spiritual exercises honoring Mary.
It was in this era that Mary’s Month and May were combined, making May the Month of Mary with special devotions organized on each day throughout the month.  This custom became especially widespread during the nineteenth century and remains in practice until today.

The month of May is a special time for Catholics to pay homage to our Blessed Mother Mary.   We pay homage to her.  Contrary to misconceptions, we do not worship her.  As Catholics, we honor Mary.

• Pray the Rosary
• Say the Hail Mary Prayer throughout the day
• Create a Prayer Corner, placing some representation of our Blessed Mother whether that be a photo, small statue, or Rosary beads.
• Create an outdoor space, flowers in honor of Mary

Anything you do, make it appealing and a real tribute to her beauty and virtue.

Why should we do this?  Not only because it is a long-standing tradition in the Church.  Not only because there are special graces connected to it...  
Do it because Mary is Mother – your mother, everyone’s mother – and because she cares for all of us day-in-and-day-out without fail, interceding for us in even the tiniest matters.

For that, she deserves an entire month in her honor. 

Two Marian liturgical celebrations are commemorated in May.

• On May 31st, in the United States, we celebrate the Commemoration of the Visitation. When Mary heard that her elderly relative, Elizabeth, was expecting a child, she hurried to help her.  Mary’s service brought Christ to the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth.

• When Ascension falls in May, the Saturday after the Ascension of Our Lord is traditionally celebrated as the Feast of Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles. The liturgy commemorates the period of time after the Ascension when the apostles were gathered in prayer with Mary and the women in the Upper Room.