Why is May "Mary's Month"?

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Hello ladies,

What a wonderful month we're in now!  May is a beautiful month with the sunshine, flowers, Mother's Day, the end of the school year, and celebrations for Our Lady!  May is often called "Mary's Month."  But why is this month especially dedicated to Our Blessed Mother?

Firstly, in ancient Greece and Rome, the month of May was dedicated to pagan goddesses connected to fertility and springtime.  In medieval times, May was celebrated as the start of spring and new growth.  The connection between motherhood and May led Christians eventually to adopt May as Mary's Month.  At this time there was also a tradition called Tricesimum, or “Thirty-Day Devotion to Mary,” which took place from August 15th - September 14th.  In the 18th century this celebration was combined with the celebrations of May.   In 1945, Pope Pius XII solidified May as a Marian month after establishing the feast of the Queenship of Mary on May 31st.

This excerpt from Saint Peter Julian Eymard's Month of Mary: Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament explains beautifully and very simply the significance and fruits of the celebration of May as Mary's month.
"The month of Mary is the month of blessings and graces, for all graces come to us through Mary, as Saint Bernard and all the saints assure us.  It is a feast of thirty days in honor of the Mother of God, and it will prepare us for the succeeding lovely month of the Blessed Sacrament.
Because we make profession of especially honoring the Holy Eucharist, it does not follow that we should have less devotion to the Blessed Virgin.  Far from it!  He would be guilty of blasphemy who would say:  "As for me, the Blessed Sacrament suffices.  I have no need of Mary."
Where shall we find Jesus on earth if not in Mary's arms?  Did she not give us the Eucharist?  Was it not her consent to the Incarnation of the Word in her pure womb that inaugurated the great mystery of reparation to God and union with us, which Jesus accomplished by His mortal life, and that He continues in the Eucharist?
Without Mary, we shall not find Jesus, for she possesses Him in her heart. ...
The essential point is to seek out and practice Our Lady's virtues.  Let us take them in order, the lowest, the smallest.  We know them.  We shall afterward rise by degrees to her interior virtues, even to her love.
Then let us daily offer up some sacrifice.  ... The Blessed Virgin will be satisfied.  It will be one more flower for the crown that she wishes to offer to her Son in our name on His day, the beautiful feast of Corpus Christi. ...
Let us then, honor the Blessed Virgin by a daily sacrifice.  Let us go through her to Our Lord, take shelter behind her, hide under her mantle, clothe ourselves with her virtues, be, as it were, her shadow.  Let us offer all her actions, all her merits, all her virtues to Our Lord.  We have only to draw on Mary, and to say to Jesus:  "I offer Thee the riches that my Mother has acquired for me,"--and Our Lord will be very much pleased with us."

People all around the world honor Mary in many ways during this month.  Some communities have processions and a "May Crowning" where a statue of Our Blessed Mother is crowned publicly.  May altars are erected in churches and in homes.  It is also a common practice for churches and families to recite the rosary daily during May, if they don't already.  This year, I'm reading the little book I mentioned above written by Father Eymard.  There are short, beautiful meditations for each day reflecting on Our Lady's virtues and her life.  If you are able to find a copy of it, I highly suggest you read it this month!  I have found it very helpful in remembering Our Lady each day.

Mary is our mother.  Jesus gave her to us when he said to St. John, "Behold your mother."  Behold your mother who's simple and humble "Fiat" allowed for our Savior to be born in the world.  Behold your mother who intercedes to her Son for you; for all your needs.  Behold your mother who is the example of every perfect virtue and grace.  Behold your mother who is the Mediatrix of all graces.

"Behold your mother."


What do you, your family, and your parish do to celebrate and honor Mary in this very special month?  Have you read any good books about Our Lady and especially about May devotions?  I pray Our Lady bless and guide you especially this month.  Pray to her for me as I do for each of you!

In corde Mariae,

Kosloski, Philip. "Why is May “Mary’s Month”?" Aletia website, aleteia.org; copyright 2018; https://aleteia.org/2018/05/02/why-is-may-marys-month/

Comments

  1. Catherine HawthornMay 17, 2018 at 2:21 PM

    May is one of my favorite months, one reason being very well detailed above. What a gem of a post, Sarah!!

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    Replies
    1. SarahSeptember 18, 2018 at 10:34 AM

      Thank you, Catherine! Yes, May is such a beautiful month for Our Lady!

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