Our Lady is Crowned Many Times by the Children this Weekend

We share these pictures from the May crownings that were held this weekend at St. Peter Claver Parish in West Hartford, Connecticut USA and also St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in West Hartford, Connecticut. 

At St. Peter Claver we had a tiny group to begin our Children's Rosary meeting. It was just our three children. Asher being the youngest, crowned Our Lady. We played the song Hail Holy Queen from our Children's Rosary Glorious Mysteries CD during the crowning. Following the crowning, we began the Rosary. But then there was a surprise...another family came! The Children's Rosary group leader from the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury Connecticut, came with her daughter Marianne. We were all thrilled to see them both. Marianne quickly took her place kneeling next to my kids. At the end of the Rosary, we decided to crown Our Lady again as Marianne was now the youngest child attending the Rosary. We again played Hail Holy Queen and sang along. Marianne very reverently placed the fresh rose crown on Our Lady's head.

Today we had our monthly Children's Rosary at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish. We began the Children's Rosary with a crowning. This time it was little Ingrid who was our youngest child in attendance. 

With the help of her older sister, she place the crown of flowers on Mary's head. She promptly ran back to her mom saying "I did it". She was very pleased with herself. We had two boys who were making their first communion today join us for the crowning and part of the Rosary. We felt it was a tremendous grace for them to have this time in prayer before they had to line up for Mass. We prayed in a special way for them. 

This little crown of roses was placed many times on Our Lady's head. Roses were also placed at Her feet at the end of the decades of the Rosary. We did small things but we trust they have great meaning to Our Lady and also to the children. These little experiences, such as Crowning Mary, create memories for these children that last a lifetime. One might reflect on if you ever participated in a Crowning of Mary as a child. Do you remember the day? Most look back fondly on such memories. These experiences allow the roots of faith to go deeper in the soul and help to anchor us in the knowledge that we have a Heavenly Mother who loves us. 

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

How to Plan a May Crowning

How to Start a Children's Rosary

The Month of May is Dedicated to Mary

Don't forget to unify prayers with the children during their meetings. A schedule of meetings is present on our website. By clicking "Join in Prayer" you can add your gold flashing light to our View from Heaven map.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH OUR NEW VIDEO:

A VIEW FROM HEAVEN 

UNA PERSPECTIVA DESDE EL CIELO

For more information about the Children's Rosary visit our website: www.childrensrosary.org

Visite nuestro sitio web en español para obtener más información: www.rosariodeninos.org

Pour plus d'informations sur le Rosaire des Enfants, visitez notre site Web:www.rosairedesenfants.org

A Child's Crown for Our Lady

Recently I came home and one of our son's was darting into the prayer room. When I went into the room, I saw that he had made a crown for Our Lady for May. We had set up a little home altar for May in honor of Mary and he had the idea to make Her a crown. The construction was very simple a thin strip of paper taped together and wild flower pedals glued on. The flowers he found while he was weeding outside. Most of the flowers were wild violet pedals.  The simplicity of the crown and tenderness shown to Our Lady were very sweet. I could see how the simplest gifts given to Our Lady's with love are surely pleasing to Her.

We also this week changed the bouquet in front of Our Blessed Mother. We had begun May with the hope to keep fresh flowers in front of Her all month. The first flowers we started with were roses but this week we purchased different flowers. As I was re-reading the Secret of a Soul by St. Therese I was reminded of the fact that we all can't be roses and Our Lady and Our Lord would not want it to be that way. The little flowers and simple violets provide beauty amongst the roses. So we found ourselves happy that we had a different gathering of flowers which we placed in front of Her this week. 

For those of you who would like to set up a home altar there are some ideas here. In reading the Story of a Soul by St. Therese she relates a wonderful experience from her childhood during May:
"Since I was too little to attend May devotions I remained at home with Victoire, carrying out my devotions with her before my little May altar. This I arranged according to my taste; everything was so small, the candlestick, the flower pots, etc. Two tapers lit it up perfectly."

We also have some additional ideas for May such as a home Marian Procession in May.

Thank you all for making this month special for Our Blessed Mother.

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

Find out ways to become involved and help the Children's Rosary

How to Start a Children's Rosary

How to Plan a May Crowning

Don't forget to unify prayers with the children during their meetings. A schedule of meetings is present on our website. By clicking "Join in Prayer" you can add your gold flashing light to our View from Heaven map.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH OUR NEW VIDEO:

A VIEW FROM HEAVEN 

UNA PERSPECTIVA DESDE EL CIELO

For more information about the Children's Rosary visit our website: www.childrensrosary.org
Visite nuestro sitio web en español para obtener más información: www.rosariodeninos.org

Pour plus d'informations sur le Rosaire des Enfants, visitez notre site Web:www.rosairedesenfants.org 

Preparing for May

The Month of May has long been dedicated to Mary. In the Encyclical, Mese Maio, Pope Paul VI describes the special opportunity we have to offer more prayers during this month to Our Heavenly Mother and the special graces that are available:
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 would like to offer some ideas of ways to make this May special:

We begin by sharing a picture of the Child Jesus. In preparation for May, we have dressed Him in blue. Looking at the Child Jesus, in those beautiful Marian colors, one is reminded how the Child Jesus loved his Mother. How He surely must have done special things for his Mother to make her happy and share His love. Following in this simplicity we try to do the same. Our Lord gave Mary to us as Our Mother and likewise it is very good that we too should give her gifts and honor her. Such kindness must please Our Lord very much as any son would like to see his mother respected and cherished. 

1) A Home Marian Procession
Recently one of our Children's Rosary group leaders, shared a tradition she holds in her home. She and her husband along with their children hold a Marian Procession once a month. May will be no exception. She explained that her youngest child carries a candle and leads the procession. A statue of Mary is carried and each of the children carries a picture of Mary. A Marian Hymn is played in the background (which is on repeat). The family has an incensor and that is carried by her husband as the family walks through the home. Once each room has been visited the family comes together and crowns Our Lady. The family then says some short prayers usually ending with a Hail Mary. They hold their monthly procession on a Feast day. This outline can be customized in your home. Many might not have an incesor but one can imagine sprinkling some holy water through the house as a nice addition. The procession could be simplified by carrying a picture of Our Lady through the house. 

2) Crowning of Our Lady at a Church or School
One idea for Children's Rosary groups in May is to hold a Crowning of Mary at their Church or School. This works very nicely right before a Children's Rosary group meeting. Children can be gathered at the back of the Church. They can process in together singing a Marian hymn. We have included Hail Holy Queen sung by children on our Glorious CD which is perfect to be played to accompany the children in song. The children could each carry a flower and place it before Our Lady. The last child, often the youngest, can crown Our Lady. After Our Lady is crowned the children can kneel and begin the Rosary. We have step by step instructions with pictures of how to plan a May Crowning HERE.

3) Offer a daily 9 hour Novena to Our Lady in May
At the top of each hour offer three Hail Marys for Our Lady's intentions. Keep the intention simple - purely for Our Lady's intentions. St. John Vianney was fond of praying a Hail Mary at the top of each hour. Likewise before Easter I too began this little effort for Our Lady. As I have a joint disability, I can't wear a watch and I also do not carry a cell phone so I was a bit worried about not knowing the time. One of my children has been trying to help me to remember. Sometimes I do forget and I find it is 10 minutes past the hour and I say the prayers then. Yet as time is going by I find more and more I remember just before the top of the hour. There is a new awareness of time passing and an excitement to remember Our Lady each hour that passes. My humble suggestion is don't give up if you miss an hour. Recently I have been pretty sick and the novena has been a real blessing since I have been too sick to walk to daily Mass. When you lose a bit of your routine this is a wonderful way to create one in a simple and beautiful way. 

4) Help a Children's Rosary group receive Rosaries
We received a note on Sunday from the Children's Rosary group leader in Pakistan. There are approximately 18 Children's Rosary groups in his diocese and a new group is forming that needs Rosaries. He also let us know, we need more rosaries as you know next month is May. He indicated that all groups will pray daily in church. He concluded with this request, so send us more rosaries as early as possible. A large flat rate package to Pakistan costs $92.00. May is a very busy time for us. There are many individuals who would like to begin groups but need materials. There are also groups that are expanding that need more rosaries. Help us continue to respond to these requests. Give Our Lady the gift of more children meeting together in Children's Rosary prayer groups to pray the Rosary. Donations can be made out to Children's Rosary and mailed to 
PO Box 271743
West Hartford, CT 06127 USA
Donations can be made electronically HERE.

5) Purchase a ten pack of Children's Rosary books and give them away. 
Each Children's Rosary book is a seed for a new group. Even if you have no idea who you would give one to...order a 10 pack anyway. They will go. Begin carrying one in your pocket or purse and see how fast it goes. Our Lady has a way of putting you in places with people who could use it. Ask Our Lady and the Holy Spirit to find homes for the books. Though you may not know the fruits of this little gift given to Our Lady here on earth, trust that Our Lady makes use of every opportunity given to her to reach souls...especially children. What great merit will be given to a soul that tries to bring little ones to Our Lady and through her to Jesus. Books can be ordered in the United States HERE. Books can be ordered in Europe HERE. Our full collection of Children's Rosary materials is provided with each link.

6) Join in Prayer
Help to illuminate our View from Heaven map as a gift to Our Lady. Let her see our tired world illuminated in prayer. Pick a time each day and visit our website: www.childrensrosary.org 
Click "join in prayer" and unify prayers with Children's Rosary prayer groups and other individuals praying. Your gold flashing light will twinkle for 30 minutes. Others around the world can see your light and this can be an invitation to others to also join in prayer. Watch our short video to see the View from Heaven with lights from Children's Rosary groups as well as individuals joining in prayer. VIDEO

7) Learn How to Pray the Rosary
Maybe you never learned how to pray the Rosary. This month as a gift to Our Lady learn how to pray the Rosary. We have many resources available for free on our website. Click HERE to learn more.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE MONTH OF MAY SPECIAL FOR 

OUR BLESSED MOTHER!

How to Plan a May Crowning

The Month of May is dedicated to Mary and many enjoy the wonderful tradition of a May crowning of Mary. Often May crownings are held on "May Day" which is May first but any day in May is wonderful. 

Here are the Basic Steps
1) Center the crowning around a Statue of Mary.  Some Churches have statues of Our Lady or you can bring a statue of Mary and then choose your location within or outside the Church.

2) Consider decorating around the statue with some flowers or candles.

3) Organize a processional which ends at the statue of Our Lady.  During the processional consider singing a song to Our Lady.

Here are some suggestions for possible songs:
Immaculate Mary (Ave Maria)  .....lyrics
Bring Flowers of the Rarest ...... lyrics
Hail Holy Queen ...... lyrics
We have included on our Children's Rosary CD of the Glorious Mysteries the children singing Hail Holy Queen.  This is meant as a resource for groups who would like to play music as the children process.  To order our CD click HERE.

4) Place a crown of flowers on Our Lady's head at the end of the processional.  If there are children processing it is always sweet to have the smallest child crown Our Lady if they can reach. The crown of flowers is often made of little roses but can be made of wild flowers.  Most grocery stores with a florist department will make one with a small bow for a very reasonable cost.  

5) Prayers are then said before Our Lady.  There is flexibility here to say one Hail Mary or a whole Rosary. A pdf of how to pray the Rosary is available HERE 

May Crowning at a Children's Rosary May 2013

A May crowning is a wonderful way to begin a Children's Rosary during the month of May. 

Other posts you may enjoy:
May Crowning
How to Start a Children's Rosary
How to Pray the Rosary