May 8, 2022 – May is the Month of Mary
May is the month of Mary.
In different ways we honor Mary throughout the year, observing different facets of the Mystery of Christ and the way that Mary is intimately bound up in that. The month of May has come to be known for Catholics as the “Month of Mary.”
Why is May dedicated to Mary?
In the month of October, we acknowledge Mary as Our Lady of Victory and Queen of the Rosary, so October is now observed as the month of the Rosary.
Then in December, Mary is very intimately bound up with Advent and the Christmas Mystery (and Dec. 8 is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception).
So why do we observe her again in May?
As we know, May is a month of springtime, of blossoming of flowers, of new life, and a time of birth.
Thus, it has also become a season of honoring Motherhood and also Mothers.
Thus even centuries before “Mother’s Day” was a formal national holiday in the United States, Catholics have honored Mary as the Mother of all believers during this springtime month.
Besides that Our Lord and King Jesus Christ called Mary “mother” and honored her as such, on the Cross, Jesus told the Beloved Disciples (who also represent all of us), “Behold Your Mother.”
So on this day when we as a country honor our mothers, when he gives them gifts and do things to show our honor, love, and respect for them, so too we also honor our spiritual, Mother Mary, by crowning her with blooming flowers and singing a hymn in love and honor of her!
In this Easter Season, I share with you a Marian Prayer typically prayed during the Easter Season, called the “Regina Caeli” (“Queen of Heaven”)
- Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
R. For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.
V. Has risen, as he said, alleluia.
R. Pray for us to God, alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.
Let us pray. O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Peace,
-Fr. Kevin
PS: Some prayer requests for this month: Besides saying an extra prayer in thanksgiving for all our mothers, please continue to hold in prayer: 1) Those who have recently received first communion (in the last couple of weekends) 2) The graduates of our parishes, who we will be honoring at some upcoming Masses, 3) Also for those to be ordained for the Archdiocese of Dubuque at the end of May: Deacon Ben Valentine who will be ordained a priest; And Casey Flack and Jeff Friedan who will be ordained transitional Deacons (and so next year ordained priests).
