May is the Month of Mary

|||

 

To the Blessed Virgin Mary for May

O most august and blessed Virgin Mary! Holy Mother of God! Glorious Queen of heaven and earth! Powerful protectress of those who love thee, and unfailing advocate of all who invoke thee! Look down, I beseech thee, from thy throne of glory on thy devoted child; accept the solemn offering I present thee of this month, specially dedicated to thee, and receive my ardent, humble desire, that by my love and fervor I could worthily honor thee, who, next to God, art deserving of all honor. Receive me, O Mother of Mercy, among thy best beloved children; extend to me thy maternal tenderness and solicitude; obtain for me a place in the Heart of Jesus, and a special share in the gifts of His grace. O deign, I beseech thee, to recognize my claims on thy protection, to watch over my spiritual and temporal interests, as well as those of all who are dear to me; to infuse into my soul the spirit of Christ, and to teach me thyself to become meek, humble, charitable, patient, and submissive to the will of God.

May my heart burn with the love of thy Divine Son, and of thee, His blessed Mother, not for a month alone, but for time and eternity; may I thirst for the promotion of His honor and thine, and contribute, as far as I can, to its extension. Receive me, O Mary, the refuge of sinners! Grant me a Mother’s blessing and a Mother’s care, now, and at the hour of my death. Amen.

 

Join us at the 9 am Mass on Sunday 7 May 2023 for our May Crowning! All are invited to bring flowers to present to Our Blessed Mother.

 

It is also customary to families to make a May Altar with a statue or image of Our Lady and to crown her in the home. Flowers traditionally are kept by the statue or image throughout the month of May.

 

The Rite of Crowning

 

THANKSGIVING AND INVOCATION

 

R: Lord, we bless you, for you are full of mercy and justice:

you humble the proud and exalt the lowly.

 

All Respond: You gave us the highest example of your divine wisdom

in the mystery of the Word made flesh and of his virgin Mother.

 

R: Your Son, humbled by death, rose glorious at your right hand,

the King of all creation.

 

All Respond: The Virgin, who acknowledged herself to be a servant,

became the Mother of our Redeemer and of those reborn in her

Son. Now, raised above the angels, she prays for all: the

Queen of mercy and grace.

 

R: Bless us as we crown this image of the Mother of your Son (of

Christ and his Mother).

 

All Respond: We confess Christ to be the King of creation and call upon

Mary, our Queen. May we walk in their likeness, spending

ourselves for the sake of others. Content with our place in this

life, may we one day hear your voice inviting us to take our

place in heaven and receive the crown of victory.

 

CROWNING

 

Eldest child or another person places the crown on the image of

Mary. If the image is of both Mary and the infant Jesus, the image of

Christ is crowned before that of the Virgin Mary. As the image is

crowned, an appropriate song is sung.

 

LITANY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

 

After the crowning, the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary is sung or

recited. The leader recites the invocations, and all

respond.

 

Lord, have mercy Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy Lord, have mercy.

God our Father in heaven                             have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world                        “

God the Holy Spirit                                        “

Holy Trinity, one God                                    “

Holy Mary                                                      pray for us.

Holy Mother of God                                      “

Most honored of Virgins                                “

Chosen daughter of the Father                     “

Mother of Christ the King                             “

Glory of the Holy Spirit                                 “

Virgin daughter of Zion                                “

Virgin poor and humble                                “

Virgin gentle and obedient                            “

Handmaid of the Lord                                  “

Mother of the Lord                                        “

Helper of the Redeemer                                 “

Full of grace                                                    “

Fountain of beauty                                         “

Model of virtue                                              “

Finest fruit of the redemption                                   “

Perfect disciple of Christ                                “

Untarnished image of the Church                “

Woman transformed                                     “

Woman clothed with the sun                                    “

Woman crowned with stars                          “

Gentle Lady                                                    “

Gracious Lady                                                “

Our Lady                                                        “

Joy of Israel                                                     “

Splendor of the Church                                 “

Pride of the human race                                “

Advocate of peace                                         “

Minister of holiness                                        “

Champion of God’s people                            “

Queen of love                                                 “

Queen of mercy                                              “

Queen of peace                                              “

Queen of angels                                             “

Queen of patriarchs and prophets                “

Queen of apostles and martyrs                     “

Queen of all saints                                         “

Queen of confessors and virgins                   “

Queen conceived without original sin          “

Queen assumed into heaven                         “

Queen of all the earth                                                “

Queen of heaven                                            “

Queen of the universe                                   “

 

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

           

R: Pray for us, O glorious Mother of the Lord.

 

All respond: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

 

The Leader concludes the Litany with the following prayer:

 

God of mercy, listen to the prayers of your servants who have honored your

handmaid Mary as mother and queen.

Grant that by your grace, we may serve you and our neighbor on earth and

be welcomed into your eternal kingdom. We ask this through Christ our

Lord. All respond: Amen.