Marian Devotions

May, the month in which the earth springs into bloom, is also the Month of Mary

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

For May, give Mary a special spot in your prayer corner. It can be a statue or picture but place there some representation of our Blessed Mother. Make it appealing and a real tribute to her beauty and virtue.

The ways Mary is honored in May are as varied as the people who honor her. It’s common for parishes to have a daily recitation of the Rosary during May, and many erect a special May altar with a statue or picture of Mary as a reminder of Mary’s month. Additionally, it’s a long-standing tradition to crown the statue of Mary during May – a custom known as May Crowning. But May altars and crownings aren’t just “church” things. We can and should be doing the same in our homes. When we echo the customs and traditions of the Church in our homes – our domestic churches – we participate more fully in the life of the Church.

For your own mother, godmother, and grandmother…please join us in a novena of Masses beginning on May 8 - May 16. 

Just do it. Why? Because Mary is…Mother – your mother, my 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.

It is our custom to celebrate a Novena (nine days) of Masses on behalf of our Mothers, Grandmothers, and all the significant women who have been a mother to us. We will begin on Mother's Day and finish on May 16.

Most Gracious Heavenly Father, We thank you for our mothers to whom you have entrusted the care of every precious human life. Grant that every woman may come to understand the full meaning of that blessing. Watch over every mother who is with child. Grant her love for her unborn baby. Give her courage in times of fear, understanding in times of doubt, and hope in times of trouble. Grant her joy in the birth of her child.We beseech you to send Your Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to all mothers who sorrow for children that have died. Help grieving mothers to rely on your tender mercy and fatherly love for all your children. We ask your blessing on all those to whom you have entrusted motherhood. May they ever follow the example of Mary, mother of Our Lord Jesus, and imitate her fidelity, her humility, and her self-giving love. We ask this through your beloved son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN.

May families join together and pray this novena (for 9 days) for their beloved Mothers, Grandmothers, Godmothers, etc.