The Month of Special Devotion to Honour the Mother Of God
Fr Jimmy invites parishioners, whether families or individuals, to make their own May Altar at home with flowers gathered from your garden or local wildflowers. Children might enjoy finding wild bluebells, buttercups, primroses, lilac all nearby, while sticking to the guidelines.
Light a candle and offer a prayer to Our Lady for family members who are “cocooned” at this time for their health and safety.
The Month of May
The month of May is set aside by the Church for Special devotion and exercises in honour of the Mother Of God The Irish name for the month “Bealtaine” is associated with a pro—Christian festival celebrated at this time of year, while the English word “May” is derived from the name of the Roman Goddess who was Mother of all the Gods.
The custom of special devotions in May, originated in Northern Italy in the early nineteenth century. There, May being the month of the Roses, the altars were always decked with these flowers. This brings to mind the title “Mystical Rose” and the devotion of the “Rosary”.
In Ireland there has always been a strong devotion to Our Lady as Mother of God: Ar Mhathair Mhic De. Perhaps St. Patrick gave it to us in 432, just one year after the Council of Ephesus when the title “Mother of God” was approved. Our love for the Mother of God was expressed during the month of May, with May altars in homes and schoolrooms and with Sunday evening processions. Childhood memories of gathering wild flowers (bluebells, primroses, which are called Mayflowers in some places, violets etc.) to adorn these altars and of white dressed children singing ‘Bring flowers of the fairest’ in the Processions, did much to preserve this love of Our Lady long after youth had passed.
As Canon Sheehan has written: ‘Somehow the fragrance and beauty of these May evenings hang around us, as incense hangs around a dimly lighted Church and often cling around a soul where faith and holiness have been banished.’
Many country areas have special traditions such as hanging a bunch of ‘May flowers’ over the cowshed door.
There are many hymns associated with our May devotion to Mary. One such one recorded and sung by Irish Tenor, Frank Patterson concludes with the words:
O Mary we crown thee with blossoms today!
Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May.
Bring Flowers of the Rarest Hymn
Refrain:
O Mary we crown thee with blossoms today!
Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May.
O Mary we crown thee with blossoms today,
Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May.
Bring flowers of the rarest
bring blossoms the fairest,
from garden and woodland and hillside and dale;
our full hearts are swelling,
our glad voices telling
the praise of the loveliest flower of the vale!
Refrain
Their lady they name thee,
Their mistress proclaim thee,
Ah, grant that thy children on earth be as true
as long as the bowers
are radiant with flowers,
as long as the azure shall keep its bright hue
Refrain
Sing gaily in chorus;
the bright angels o’er us
re-echo the strains we begin upon earth;
their harps are repeating
the notes of our greeting,
for Mary herself is the cause of our mirth
Refrain.
How Mary is honored in May is as varied as the people who honor her. It’s common for parishes to erect a special May altar with a statue or picture of Mary as a reminder of Mary’s month. Additionally, it’s a long-standing tradition to crown the statue of Mary during May — a custom known as May Crowning. Often, the crown is made of beautiful blossoms (shaped with floral wire) representing Mary’s beauty and virtue. it’s also a reminder to the faithful to strive to imitate our Blessed Mother’s virtue in our own lives.
Take my hand, Oh Blessed Mother
Take my hand, Oh Blessed Mother.
Hold me firmly, lest I fall.
lf l’m nervous, while I’m walking,
quickly heed my humble call.
Guide me over every crossing.
Watch me when I’m on the stairs.
Let me know that You’re beside me,
listen to my fervent prayers.
Bring me to my destination.
Keep my safe along the way.
Bless my every undertaking,
and my duties for the day.
When the evening draws upon me,
I do not fear to be alone.
Once again, Oh Blessed Mother,
take my hand, and lead me home.
Amen
Some May Resources
Click here to find several free colouring pages for Mother Mary
The May Altar
A simple May Altar is a small surface in your home dedicated to honoring Our Blessed Mother during the May.
All you need :
a bit of surface space
a desire to honor Our Lady
creativity.
Suggested Items
Images, icon or statue of Mary
Blue or white linens (colors often associated with Our Lady)
Spring flowers, wild flowers
Holy Cards with images of Mary
Candles
Rosaries
Picture books and devotionals about Mary
Holy Water
Words to hymns about Mary
Cushions to kneel on or a chair nearby to encourage us to stop and pray
Preparing Your May Altar
May Altars can be arranged wherever your family has space and in whatever way your family finds meaningful.
Some use only “child-friendly” materials, which children help select, create and place, encourages them to pray at their own levels at the altar, through play as much as traditional.
Some May Altars consist of an image, icon or statue of Mary and a spray of May flowers placed in a prominent place.
Others have a delicate, traditional sacred space, with a statue or icon of Mary raised at its center.
Positioned in a quiet corner of their home, the altar becomes a place for prayerful meditation.
Pray, Play and Pay Respects at Your May Altar Daily
Some suggestions include
reading different books and excerpts about Mary
adding signs and symbols about Mary
offering crafts, creations
learning some songs/prayers about Mary
writing names or drawing pictures on paper petals of people we would like Mary to help us pray for
Pray for an end to the pandemic.
May Customs – taken from An Duchas
In olden times many customs were practised on May-day, most of these are gone now-a-days, but some are yet continued and practised. The evening previous to May-day some member of each household goes out into the fields and gathers a hugh quantity of May-flowers. In the towns some poor children go about selling flowers for a little money. On that night, they are scattered on the door-steps and on the window-sills, to welcome the first day of Summer. As the month of May is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, an altar is prepared in every Catholic home. It is decorated with flowers, and a small lighted lamp is placed before her statue.