The month of May is traditionally dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary as a time of special devotion honoring her unique role in salvation history and her motherly intercession for us, her faithful children.
Marian feasts are spread throughout the Church’s liturgical calendar, and there is no shortage of opportunities to honor Mary as the Mother of God (Theotokos in Greek) and our mother.
Still, May, being in springtime, symbolizes new life and renewal. This makes May a fitting month for Marian devotion, which traditionally includes special prayers, the rosary, processions, and other popular devotions aimed at our sanctification and drawing us closer to Christ through Mary’s maternal guidance.
If we take this month-long dedication to Mary seriously, we can intensify our relationship with Mary, who leads us to her Son and comforts us like a mother, nurturing our spiritual life with gentleness and healing. From the beginning of Church history, Christians have believed that Mary points the way to her Son and that by drawing closer to her, we can be united more intimately with Jesus.
Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary does not require us to explain or defend complex theological concepts. It simply means that we recognize in Mary an extraordinary degree of holiness. She is, after all, “full of grace.” And we honor her by making a sincere effort to follow her example, saying, as Mary did, “Let it be done to me according to your will.”
Intimacy with Mary, our mother, means sharing with her our hopes and fears, joys and sorrows, successes and failures, so that she can comfort us, encourage us, and lead us to her Son. Mary shows us how to find Jesus, especially when we have lost our way. And when we have found him, Mary tells us the same thing she said to the servants at the wedding feast in Cana: “Do whatever he tells you.” (Jn 2:5).
Praying the rosary in May deepens our faith by allowing us to make a contemplative journey into the mysteries of Christ’s life through Mary’s motherly presence, fostering peace, spiritual consolation, moral renewal, and a closer relationship with Christ and the Church
In addition, praying the rosary during May enhances our broader understanding of Marian spirituality, emphasizing Mary’s role as our mother, a model of purity, and our intercessor and queen in God’s plan of salvation. The holy rosary grounds us in the lived reality of Jesus’ life and in Mary’s unique participation in it, providing a lifetime of contemplative opportunity that can enrich daily spiritual life.
The Church gives us the month of May to increase our devotion to Mary and, so, grow in holiness. Let’s take advantage of this great gift. Let’s turn to Mary by seeking out the nearest Marian shrine, by inviting our Blessed Mother to walk with us through the 31 days of this special month, and, above all, by frequently praying the rosary
Daniel Conway, a member of Holy Trinity Church, is a writer, consultant and stewardship educator.
