May, the Mary month

From traditions passed on over the past few centuries, special devotion is given to Our Blessed Mother Mary in the month of May, particularly honoring her as “Mother of God” and “Queen of Heaven.” May also marks the month of the famous Marian apparitions in Fatima, Portugal beginning on May 13, 1917 to three shepherd children. Here are three devotions for celebrating this month:

• May Crowning: This can take place in a parish or home on or near May 1 by adorning a statue of Mary with a crown (can be made from flowers). When I was growing up, we would do this in our parish on the first Sunday of May. All of the children, with those who made their first Holy Communion in front, would process in carrying flowers for our Blessed Mother. These would be placed in a vase at her feet. The last child would carry the crown that would be placed on Mary’s head.
• Rosary: Since the time of St. Dominic in the thirteenth century, devotion to the rosary has been continually promoted and urged among the faithful. Our Lady gave St. Dominic this powerful spiritual weapon in a vision and has encouraged the praying of it throughout the following centuries for the conversion of hearts. Praying the rosary helps us to meditate on the events of our Lord’s life, so that we can imitate him and Mary, his perfect disciple, in loving the Father through doing his will.
• Marian Pilgrimage: In our diocese during this Year of Faith, the faithful have the opportunity of receiving a plenary indulgence by making a pilgrimage to participate in a sacred celebration or at least remain for a time in prayer and pious meditation to the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit or any of the 15 parishes dedicated to Mary. The indulgence is granted when the faithful (who are detached from sin or not in the act of sinning) go to sacramental confession, receive the holy Eucharist, and pray an Our Father, Creed, and prayer to Mary for the Holy Father’s intentions. The 15 Marian Parishes in the Bismarck Diocese are:
  • Our Lady of Consolation, Alexander
  • St. Mary Queen of Peace, Almont
  • St. Mary, Bismarck
  • Queen of Peace, Dickinson
  • St. Mary, Foxholm
  • St. Mary, Golva
  • St. Mary, Hague
  • St. Mary, Marmarth
  • Immaculate Conception, Max
  • St. Mary, Medora
  • Our Lady of Grace, Minot
  • St. Mary, New England
  • St. Mary, Richardton
  • St. Mary, South Heart
  • Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, Stanley