The Perfect Disciple

Why is the month of May dedicated to the Blessed Virgin? There are two reasons: first, it is due to a long-standing practice developed in the Church; second, Mary is associated with Christ’s saving work from Easter through Pentecost. This month of May devotion to Mary is traced to Rome in the late 18^th century. During this time, Father Latomia (a Jesuit at the Roman College) made a vow to devote the month of May to Mary to counter infidelity among students. From Rome, this devotion spread to other Jesuit colleges and eventually throughout the Catholic Church.
 
This May devotion is not merely a private idea; the Church has repeatedly praised and encouraged it. For example, Pope Pius XII notes in his encyclical Mediator Dei that prayers “usually said during the month of May in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mother of God” (along with other approved devotions) are “of special import and dignity” and have been “approved and praised over and over again by the Apostolic See and by the bishops.”
 
WHY WE HONOR HER – MARY IS THE PERFECT DISCIPLE
Catholic teaching insists that prayer is ultimately addressed to God, but we truly may ask saints such as Mary for intercession “as from intercessors.” Further, the Catholic Church has many models of faith, most especially through the lives of saints and martyrs. 
 
However, Mary, although human, is elevated as Queen of all Saints because of her unique role in salvation history and her faithful cooperation with God’s grace. She is also the first and perfect disciple of Jesus. So, closeness to her is closeness to Christ. But more than that, we can participate in that relationship (Mary and Jesus) as she listens most intently to Him and Him to her. This was the case during their time on Earth and remains so to this day. As such, her powerful intercession assists us greatly in the Christian life. The Catechism calls Mary the “perfect Orans” (a model of prayer) and says that when Christians pray with and to her, they adhere to the Father’s plan that sends the Son to save (CCC 2679).
 
Marian Feast Days in May

• OUR LADY OF FATIMA – May 13, commemorating her apparition to 3 children in 1917

• MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH – Monday after Pentecost, this year celebrated on May 25 (added to the Universal Calendar by Pope Francis in 2018)

 
HOW CAN WE HONOR THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY DURING THIS MONTH?
We can do this by welcoming Mary into our daily lives and into our homes in various ways: 

- ASK FOR HER INTERCESSION IN DAILY PRAYER. There is power in the Hail Mary prayer: “Because of Mary’s singular cooperation with the action of the Holy Spirit,” the Church loves to pray in communion with her — magnifying what the Lord has done and entrusting prayers to her (CCC 2682). Thus, the Hail Mary is not merely words — it is the Church repeating God’s own greetings to Mary, joined to a real petition for Mary’s intercession, and ordered to obtain grace from God. 

- PRAY THE ROSARY. The Catechism teaches that the Church’s special devotion to Mary is part of Christian worship, and that Marian prayers such as the rosary are an “epitome of the whole Gospel” (CCC 971).PRAYING A LITANY. While she has many titles – all associated with beauty, strength, and Christian perfection – invoking her name through a simple litany such as the Litany of Loreto helps us recall her strength, power and beauty through various appropriate titles: Virgin most powerful, Virgin most merciful, Virgin most faithful, Mirror of justice, Seat of wisdom, Cause of our joy, Spiritual vessel… 
 
- DISPLAY AN IMAGE (or shrine) of Our Lady in a prominent location visible daily and visible to others.