May is the month of all things Mary

May is dedicated to Mary, Mother of God, and for many Catholics the month is spent saying the rosary, doing novenas, attending crownings and processions, visiting churches dedicated to Our Lady, or creating Mary altars and gardens.

Although the origins are unknown, for centuries Catholics have been dedicating May to Mary with devotional prayers and processions as the month coincides with spring and new birth. The devotional prayers are accompanied by specific requests for Mary’s intercession with God. The most popular devotion is the A Litany of Mary.

Setting aside the month for Mary has been somewhat formalized by two popes. In 1954, Pope Pius XI proclaimed the Queenship of Mary through his encyclical, Ad Caeli Reginam. It was the first time a pope had given credit to Mary for her role in the Redemption with her son. In 1965, Pope Paul VI in Mense Maio wrote that May should be a time for special prayers for peace and devotion to Mary Mother of God.

Processions, crownings

*A May Crowning at St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church.* *(SBAC)*

Schools will hold crownings, and many parishes end the month of May with processions around the church grounds. Marian “Queen of May” hymns will be sung. May Crownings can take place on May 1, the feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary, First Holy Communion celebrations, or Mother’s Day, and offer the Church a chance to reflect on Mary’s role in the history of salvation. Check with your parish to see when a procession or crowning may be planned.

The Church of the Assumption in Emerson will hold a Marian procession and carnival. The crowning will take place at the 5 p.m. Mass on Saturday, May 11, with the procession to follow. A Marian Carnival will be held May 15-19.

Altars

Churches, as well as families in private homes, erect May Altars. The tables are decorated with an image of Mary, candles, flowers, and rosaries. Devotions such as the saying the rosary and prayers and singing of hymns are held around the altar.

*Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Orange celebrates the feast of Maria Santissima Incoronata di Foggia. (OLMC)*

Most Holy Mary Crowned

St. Lucy’s in Newark and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Orange celebrate the feast of Maria Santissima Incoronata di Foggia (Most Holy Mary Crowned) on the last Saturday of April.

The origin of the feast dates back to the year 1001 and is celebrated on the last Saturday of April. At the turn of the 20th century, Italian immigrants from Alberona (a commune of the province of Foggia) brought the devotion to New Jersey.

Filipino festivals

Festival of Flores De Mayo and Santacruzan.
(Jaimie Julia Winters)

Filipino traditions celebrated during May include Flores De Mayo and Santacruzan.

Flores de Mayo is celebrated with daily flower offerings to Mary, and Santacruzan is a religious-historical beauty pageant held to commemorate the discovery of the Holy Cross that, as believed, was made by Saint Helena and her son Constantine. Constantine became the first Christian Roman Emperor.

A First Grand Marian Procession and Holy Mass will be held by the Legion of Mary and Filipino Apostolate of St. John on May 5 at 3 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church in Bergenfield.

Other feasts in May

Marian Feasts during May include: Our Lady of Fatima on May 13, Mary Help of Christians on May 24, and The Visitation on May 31.

On May 13, Catholics celebrate Mary delivering a message to the three shepherd children in Portugal for men to consecrate themselves to Her Immaculate Heart.

Mary Help of Christians Feast was established by Pope Pius VII after his release from prison following his arrest by order of Napoleon Bonaparte.

The Visitation corresponds to the visit of Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus, to Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist.

Mary Gardens

Visit or plant a Mary Garden. The practice of honoring Mary with flowers originated among monasteries and convents in the Middle Ages.

Mary Garden at St. Raphael’s Parish.
( St. Raphael’s Parish)

One garden that can be visited is the Mary Garden at St. Raphael’s Parish in Livingston. Students there planted a pollinator garden honoring Mary, the Blessed Mother in 2022.

You can plant your own garden with flowers that are historically linked to Mary.

Here is a list of plants historically planted in Mary Garden’s and what they represent: Foxglove–Our Lady’s Gloves; Pansy–Our Lady’s Delight; Chrysanthemum–All Saints’ Flower; Columbine–Our Lady’s Shoes; Forget-Me-Not–Eyes of Mary; Strawberry–Fruitful Virgin; Violet–Our Lady’s Modesty; Alyssum–Mary’s Flower; Cosmos–St. Michael’s Flower; Marigold–Mary’s Gold; Mary’s Heart — — Bleeding Heart; and Morning Glory–Our Lady’s Mantle.

List of Marian Devotions: