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In May, we celebrate Mary! For centuries, May has been traditionally dedicated to Mary. It seems only fitting that when the earth blooms into Spring beauty, we turn toward Our Lady!
This tradition has spanned many centuries, roots coming from ancient Greece and Rome. In Ancient Greece, the month of May was dedicated to Artemis, the goddess of fertility. In early Rome, May was linked to Flora, goddess of bloom and blossoms. In the 13th century, the ancient tradition of celebrating and honoring life and fertility in May led to Christians to adopt May as the month to honor Mary.
Keep reading for some ideas on how to honor Mary this month!
1. Adorn our Lady with Flowers
May Crownings are one of the most popular ways to celebrate the month of Mary. All you need to do is make a small crown of flowers for your indoor or outdoor Mary statue and adorn her. Even bringing flowers to your church's statue of Mary can be a beautiful devotion to make during this month. If you do not have a Mary statue, consider buying one for your home (even a small one!).
2. Pray the Rosary
The Rosary is a beautiful way to ask our Lady's intercession! Arguably the best way to honor our Lady, the Rosary is one of the most powerful tools our faith gives us. Consider adding in a daily or weekly Rosary during this month.
3. Learn about a new Marian Devotion
Our Lady has appeared to many different people throughout Christian history. She has many different titles, unique to different times, peoples, and cultures. Consider reading about a devotion to Mary that you are not already familiar with in order to inspire your own devotion to our Blessed Mother. Examples include Our Lady of Mercy, Our Lady of Grace, our Lady of Perpetual Help, Our Lady Star of the Sea, and so many more.
4. Read a book about Mary
We are blessed with many wonderful Catholic authors who have written great works on Mary. To truly learn more about her and go deeper in your devotion, consider reading books such as True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis de Montfort, The World's First Love by Blessed Fulton Sheen, 33 Days for Morning Glory by Fr. Michael Gaitley, or one of the other many books written about Our Lady.
5. Memorize a Marian Prayer
You may already know some popular Marian prayers (like the Hail Mary or the Memorare) but consider learning a new prayer to add to your morning or evening prayer routines, or to pray after you attend Mass. EWTN has great resources on Marian Prayers (learn more: Marian Prayers | EWTN).