On May 7, 2021, at 9:00 A.M. we celebrate May Crowning with an all-school Mass at St. Patrick Church and feast on hope as Mary did.
What is May Crowning?
May Crowning is a traditional Roman Catholic ritual held during May. It is a solemn procession at the close of the procession a statue of the Blessed Virgin is crowned with a garland or crown of flowers honoring Mary as “the Queen of May.”
There is a special honor attached to being chosen to crown the statue of the Blessed Mother. A Saint Patrick Catholic School 8th grader leads the procession and crowns Mary with fellow 8th-grade classmates as her attendants. The processional typically includes students from each grade level carrying flowers for Mary and 8th graders, also have the honor of special readings and leading prayers.
PreK students had their own special May Crowning ceremony at Saint Patrick Catholic School.
Why a Crowning?
The queen symbol was attributed to Mary because she was a perfect follower of Christ, who is the absolute “crown” of creation. She is the Mother of the Son of God, who is the messianic King. Mary is the Mother of Christ.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High;
the Lord will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there will be no end. Luke 1:32-33
Elizabeth greeted the Blessed Virgin, pregnant with Jesus, as “the mother of my Lord” (Lk 1:41-43). The maid of Nazareth consented to God’s plan; she journeyed on the pilgrimage of faith; she listened to God’s Word and kept it in her heart; she remained steadfastly in close union with her Son, all the way to the foot of the Cross; she persevered in prayer with the Church. Thus, in a way she won the “crown of righteousness” (II Tim 4:8), the “crown of life” (Jas 1:12; Rev 2:10), the “crown of glory” (I Pet 5:4) that is promised to those who follow Christ.
Flowers Named after Mary
The faithful saw Mary’s attributes in the herbs and flowers growing around them. Many flowers and herbs are symbolically associated with Mary’s life and many people create Mary gardens. A Mary garden is a small sacred garden enclosing a statue or shrine of the Virgin Mary. Select flowers, shrubs, and trees associated with Mary are planted in the garden.
Marian Hymns
Who doesn’t love to sing a song to Mary? Many Marian hymns can be sung at a May Crowning include Hail Holy Queen, Immaculate Mary (Ave Maria), or Hail Mary (Gentle Woman).
A Memorial for The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church
In 2018, the Vatican announced Pope Francis’ decision that the Church celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as “Mother of the Church” every year on Monday after Pentecost.
Pope Francis added the memorial to the Roman Calendar after carefully considering how the promotion of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary under this particular title might encourage growth in “the maternal sense of the Church.”
