Letter from the Pastor
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May 7, 2023It’s here, the beautiful month of May.
May is the fifth month in the year and has 31 days. It is the final month of spring and was named for the Greek goddess Maia. However, since the 13th century, May has been dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God.
The link between Mary and the month of May became popular among the members of the Jesuit Order — by 1700 it had a firm hold among their students at the Roman College and a short time later it was publicly celebrated in the Church of the Gesu in Rome. From there it spread to the rest of the Church. Why May for Mary? First, spring is at the height of its beauty during May. Secondly, spring is the time when nature renews itself. In her way, Mary gave new life to the world when she gave birth to our Savior Jesus Christ. Spring is of course, when Easter is celebrated, new life springs forth from the cold, dead winter.
In most parishes, May is the time for First Holy Communions, Confirmations, ordinations, graduations, weddings, public recitation of the rosary and of course May Crowning. There are very ancient and beautiful prayers dedicated to Mary. One of those prayers is known as the Regina Coeli. As we have 21 days left of the Easter Season, we recite at 6:00AM, Noon and 6:00PM, the Regina Coeli instead of the Angelus.
Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia!
Because the Son you were chosen to bear, alleluia!
Has risen, as he said, alleluia!
Pray for us to God, alleluia!
Rejoice and be glad, O virgin Mary, alleluia!
Because the Lord is truly risen, alleluia!
O God, who by the Resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, granted joy to the whole world, grant, we beseech you, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may enjoy the happiness of eternal life, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.
While the authorship of the Regina Coeli is unknown, the hymn has been traced back to the twelfth century. It was in Franciscan use, after Compline, in the first half of the following century. There is a legend that says Pope St. Gregory the Great (d. 604) heard the first three lines chanted by angels on a certain Easter morning in Rome while he walked barefoot in a great religious procession; consequently, he added the fourth line: “Ora pro nobis Deum. Alleluia.”
Another beautiful Marian prayer, and one of my favorites is The Memorare.
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known
that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help,
or sought thy intercession,
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence
I fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To thee do I come,
before thee I stand,
sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
The prayer has been traditionally attributed to the abbot St. Bernard of Clairvaux from the 12th century.
Devotion to Mary is an important part of our Catholic identity. The month of May is one rich in tradition and a beautiful time of the year to honor our heavenly mother.
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
