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May Monthly Devotion: Blessed Virgin Mary
The Monthly Devotion of May is the Blessed Virgin Mary. This has been a part of our Catholic tradition since at least the 18th century.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus bestows her care to John and also gives his Mother as a gift to all of us. Pope Francis added the celebration of Mary the Mother of the Church on the Monday following Pentecost.
The Catholic Church teaches that Mary was immaculately conceived (paragraph 492), is perpetually a virgin (paragraph 496 and following), and is the Mother of God (paragraph 495). She is the Queen of Heaven (Lumen Gentium 59).
She is a powerful intercessor for us. As Jesus' mom, she is able to help us understand him and draw nearer to him through prayer. She also is able to take our requests to him and help dispense his grace upon us. We see examples of her as an intercessor through her numerous apparitions (appearances on earth after she was assumed into Heaven). In these apparitions, she draws the visionaries and those around them closer to her Son through prayer and fasting. She is also able to take their requests directly to her Son.
Not only is the month of May devoted to her, there are several Marian feast days throughout the month, including Our Lady of Fatima on May 13 and the Visitation on May 31.
Ways to Celebrate Mary:- Look up one of the approved Apparitions. Notice her appearance as the Mother of All (she tends to look like those to whom she is appearing), her message, her requests. How could she be asking you to make changes in your life to love Christ more?- Decorate with flowers and/or the color blue (Blue is a heavenly color and so reminds us of Mary's role of Queen in Heaven. It is also a color of purity.)- Crown your Mary statue with flowers or place some near a Mary statue in your home or at Church- Pray the Rosary. The prayer given to us by Mary herself, frequently encouraged to pray by Mary herself during her apparitions, and promoted by many popes and saints. It is a meditation on different events/times of Jesus' life and a request for The Holy Mother to shed spiritual light and understanding on them for us.- Pray the Angelus. Typically said at 6am, noon, and 6pm. This prayer helps us consider Jesus' Incarnation through Mary's intercession throughout our day.