For several centuries, the Catholic Church has dedicated the month of May to the Virgin Mary. This tradition, although popularised from the 18th century onwards in Europe, has its roots in much older devotion to the Mother of God. The month of May, synonymous with renewal, flowers and light, was naturally chosen to honour the Virgin Mary, also known as the "Flower of the Field", the "Queen of Heaven" or "Our Lady".
This month is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
In many Christian cultures around the world, May is thus punctuated by processions, Marian prayers, songs, wreaths of flowers and special moments when the faithful turn with trust to the Virgin Mary. This month becomes a veritable school of tenderness, faith and contemplation.
Mary, model of faith and trust
To devote an entire month to the Virgin is not to adore her as we adore God, but to give her a special place in our journey of faith. Mary is the one who said "yes" to God without understanding everything, who welcomed the mystery into her life, who suffered, hoped and loved in silence.
In this sense, she is a model for every Christian. She shows us the way of trust, of faithfulness in small things, of humility. She watches over us as a mother watches over her children. To turn to her is to learn to love her Son, Jesus Christ, more.
How to live the month of Mary?
There are many simple and beautiful ways to live this Marian month:
1. Praying the rosary
Praying the rosary every day or every week during the month of May is a very ancient practice. By meditating on the joyful, sorrowful, glorious and luminous mysteries, we gradually enter into the life of Christ with the eyes and heart of his Mother.
2. Decorating a "Marian corner"
You can create a small Marian altar in your home with a statue or image of the Virgin, a candle and a few flowers. This place becomes a visual landmark, a call to daily prayer. Children often like to put a drawing or a picked flower there.
3. Songs to Mary
The month of May is an opportunity to rediscover the magnificent Marian songs: "Hail Mary", "Crowned with Stars", "Regina caeli", "Magnificat", etc. Singing them as a family or in church nourishes faith and joy.
4. A step of the heart
Give Mary a concrete effort during this month: a forgiveness given, help given to someone, a moment of silence, a visit to a lonely person. Each gesture becomes a spiritual flower offered to our heavenly Mother.
5. Participate in community times
Many parishes organise processions, public rosaries, special Masses and Marian vigils in May. Joining in with them helps to strengthen the link between Marian devotion and church life.
Mary, Queen of peace and hope
In an often troubled world, Mary is invoked as Queen of peace. She teaches us the inner peace that comes from abandoning ourselves to God. She also teaches us to hope, even when all seems lost, as she did at the foot of the Cross.
She is not distant, but close. She is not a goddess, but a mother. She is Christ's first disciple, the one who knows him better than anyone else, and who leads us to him.
An invitation to grow in love
The month of May is an invitation to love. To love Mary is to allow ourselves to be drawn into a greater, purer, simpler love. It means rediscovering that the Christian faith is not primarily a duty, but a relationship of love. And who better than Mary to teach us this?
