It’s all things Mary in the month of May

In the Catholic tradition, May is a month dedicated to Mary. This custom of honoring Mary has ancient roots in various cultures and traditions that celebrated fertility and birth during May festivals. The month’s name originated from the Roman goddess Maia, who was associated with Spring. Over the years, Papal documents have supported and urged faith-based devotions that align with the spirituality of their respective historical periods, Sister Barbara A. Moore, O.P. said. 

Sister Barbara, a Caldwell Dominican who has been an educator, administrator, Pastoral
Associate and Associate Professor of Theology at Caldwell University, sat down with Jersey Catholic to discuss all things Mary to help us celebrate her this month — and throughout the entire year. 

What does it mean to have a devotion to Mary and why have one? 

Traditional artistic images of Mary paint her as very young and innocent or as an anguished Mary at the foot of the Cross. Within those two images, we can also find Mary in her humanness. One can visualize in Mary a likeness to one’s own history, age, and place. Each Aug. 22 we are called to remember that Mary was “assumed” into Heaven. We venerate Mary as Mother, role model, and wisdom figure on our own spiritual journey.   

What are the most popular Marian devotions? 

The Rosary, Novenas, and devotional prayers are the most popular. Liturgically, there are Feast Days throughout the year that celebrate Mary.  A Litany of Mary recalls the many merits of Mary to which the faithful relate and hope to emulate.  

Why ask for her intercession when we can just pray to Jesus? 

The Assumption of Mary is one of the four major dogmas of the Catholic Church. Pope Pius XII defined it in 1950.  Mary’s presence with Jesus reminds us of the intimacy Mary holds with her son. Mary emulates the feminine, maternal images of compassion and understanding. Her life reminds us of who we are called to be. 

Why is praying the Rosary so important? 

The Rosary is a scriptural journey recalling events most significate in the life of Jesus. In 2022 Pope John Paul added an additional five decades. These Luminous decades recall images in Jesus’ life that culminate in the Holy Spirit and Pentecost. One might see it as recalling our ancestry as Catholics, although not only Catholics appreciate remembering their gift of faith through Jesus and Mary.  

Marian Consecration takes devotion further. What is it exactly? 

Marian consecration is the act of entrusting one’s body, soul, possessions, works, and entire life to the protection, guidance, and intercession of Our Lady. It’s a deepening of our devotion to and relationship with Jesus through Our Lady. 

Marian Consecration is a freely chosen way of living one’s Baptismal commitment. 

It was Saint Louis Mary Grignion de Montfort who proposed an Act of Consecration to Mary. In 1712, he wrote “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary” a path “to Jesus through Mary,” a 33-Day process of consecrating one’s life.   

Explain more about Marian Apparitions.  

Throughout time and across various locations, there exist numerous devotional shrines dedicated to Mary, each associated with a Marian apparition and a message of some sort. Lourdes, Fatima, Guadalupe, Metagourgie are familiar ones with their own story of Mary’s re-entry and intervening in human life.  

Of interest today might be the existence of two less known shrines of Black Madonna’s. Our Lady of Monserrat consecrated in 1844 by Pope Leo XIII is located on a mountain in Spanish Catalonia where a temple existed to the Goddess Venus. In March 1522 it was here that Ignatius Loyola laid down his arms before the image, relinquishing his military life.  Another Black Madonna, Our Lady of Czestochowa in Poland is venerated as contributing to the fall of Communism in Poland.  

Shrines reflect human struggle and the deep faith alive where human experience recognizes and affirms the intercession of Mary into human life.  

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