Why May is Dedicated to the Virgin Mary
As the flowers bloom and the world awakens in spring, the Church turns her gaze to the most beautiful flower of all—Our Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary. May has long been celebrated as the Month of Mary, a special time when Catholics around the world show their love and devotion to her in a particular way.
But why May? And how can we honor her during this month?
The Tradition of May Devotions
The tradition of dedicating the month of May to Mary goes back centuries, with roots in medieval Europe. In many cultures, May was associated with new life and blossoming beauty—fitting symbols of Our Lady, who gave us Jesus, the Source of all life and grace. By the 18th century, the practice of honoring Mary during May became widespread, especially through daily prayers, the crowning of statues with flowers, and special devotions like the Rosary.
Mary: Our Mother and Queen
Mary isn’t just a distant figure in salvation history—she is our mother, given to us by Jesus from the Cross (John 19:26-27). She is our gentle guide, our intercessor, and our Queen. When we honor her, we honor the one who always leads us closer to Christ. In fact, everything about Mary points us to her Son.
That’s why the Church encourages Marian devotion—not as a distraction from Jesus, but as a path to Him.
How We Can Celebrate Mary This May
Here are a few meaningful ways you can draw closer to Our Lady this month:
Pray the Rosary daily. May is the perfect time to deepen your love for the Rosary, a powerful prayer that walks us through the life of Jesus with Mary.
Create a May altar. Place a statue or image of Mary in your home, decorate it with fresh flowers, and make it a place of prayer.
Crown Mary with flowers. This beautiful tradition, often called a “May Crowning,” is a lovely way to show our love for our Queen.
Offer small sacrifices and acts of love. Just like any mother, Mary delights in the little gifts of her children.
A Simple Invitation
You don’t have to do anything grand or complicated to honor Mary this month. Just love her. Talk to her. Let her be a mother to you. She is always near, always ready to bring your prayers to Jesus and wrap you in her mantle of protection.
As we move through this beautiful month, let us turn our hearts to Mary and say with childlike trust: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee
