The Month of May is Dedicated to Mary

In the Encyclical of Pope Paul VI on Prayers during May he so beautifully describes how the month of May is a time “long dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God. Our heart rejoices at the thought of the moving tribute of faith and love which will soon be paid to the Queen of Heaven in every corner of the earth. For this is the month during which Christians, in their churches and their homes, offer the Virgin Mother more fervent and loving acts of homage and veneration; and it is the month in which a greater abundance of God's merciful gifts comes down to us from our Mother's throne.

We are delighted and consoled by this pious custom associated with the month of May, which pays honor to the Blessed Virgin and brings such rich benefits to the Christian people. Since Mary is rightly to be regarded as the way by which we are led to Christ, the person who encounters Mary cannot help but encounter Christ likewise. For what other reason do we continually turn to Mary except to seek the Christ in her arms, to seek our Savior in her, through her, and with her? To Him men are to turn amid the anxieties and perils of this world, urged on by duty and driven by the compelling needs of their heart, to find a haven of salvation, a transcendent fountain of life.”

Pope Pius goes on to recommend May as a time of special prayers.

“Because the month of May is a powerful incentive to more frequent and fervent prayers, and because our petitions more readily find access to her compassionate heart during it, it has been a favorite custom of Our predecessors to choose this month, dedicated to Mary, for urging the Christian people to offer up public prayers whenever the needs of the Church demanded it or some grave crisis threatened the human race. This year, Venerable Brothers, We in turn feel compelled to call for such prayers from the whole Catholic world. Looking at the present needs of the Church and the status of world peace, We have sound reasons to believe that the present hour is especially grave and that a plea for concerted prayer on the part of all Christians is a matter of top priority."

The Children's Rosary has planned several little gifts to give to Our Lady this month:

A novena of 9 daily Masses was offered for Our Lady's Intentions beginning May 1st and concluding May 9th.

There will be 11 Children's Rosary group meetings this month.

A new Children's Rosary group will have their first meeting May 12th.  On their first meeting the group will be consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Children receiving their first communion at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in West Hartford, CT and in St Nicholas Church in Dighton, MA were given a Children's Rosary book to help encourage this devotion to the Rosary and Our Blessed Mother.





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