May - The Month of Mary!

Ladies & Gentlemen, welcome to a very special month of both the ordinary AND the liturgical year - May! For many Catholics, May is a month for Final Examinations, Planning their 'Summer' Vacation, preparing for Weddings, and other things. But above all those said factors, there exists something (or this case, someone) far more important and meaningful to us. The Month of May is solely dedicated to our Blessed Mother, Mary and that is why the magnitude of May is so great.

One might ask why is this month dedicated to this awesome woman! Now, lets delve into some history here. May is considered the season of the 'beginning of new life'; at this time, Winter has officially ended and Spring is now in season. In the Greek society, May was dedicated to the Goddess Artemis, who was linked to Fecundity (Fertility). In the Roman society, May was dedicated to the Goddess of Bloom/Blossom, Flora. Therefore, it seemed as though May was being linked towards the ideas of 'New Life' and 'Fertility' and that May was regarded as the month of motherhood (Probably that's the reason why Mother's Day falls in May). Hence, Christians followed this trend and made the link between Motherhood and New Life and embraced the idea to consider May as the month of Mary, someone who fits the title of 'Mother' so perfectly!

Mary is the perfect example of holiness and humility. "And Mary said: "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word". And The Angel departed from her."- Luke 1:38. It is so awesome for us, Catholics, to focus on someone who walked this very earth, who came from such a simple background, who was and is still faithful and we call 'Queen'. Mary leads us to her Son Jesus Christ. She is constantly praying for us both individually and collectively. But why do we leave her to pray on her own when it is our duty to pray WITH her!? The role of our Blessed Mother is to be our divine intercessor, someone that we can turn to in not only bad times but also in pleasant times and join with her in praising her Son and our Lord and also pray with her. The second part of the Hail Mary prayer says, 'Holy Mary, Mother of God, PRAY FOR US, now and at the hour of death - Amen'. We have to understand and accept how powerful and meaningful this wonder-woman really is. Where Jesus is, Mary is at his side (Just like the Miracle that took place at the Wedding of Cana). If you are yet to be gripped by the holy mantle of the Blessed mother, use this special month to build your foundation in getting to know and love this sweet and admirable lady. Mary NEVER lets us down, like our very own mother who cares and loves us unconditionally, so too is our Spiritual Mother! As the popular saying goes, 'A Mother's prayer is always powerful'. 

These are some of the ways to honor Mary in this month and beyond:

• Daily Recitation of the Holy Rosary.
• Praying the Magnificat
• Displaying an icon of Mary in your home and placing beautiful flowers around.
• Singing songs to Mary to keep in our minds the magnitude of her being. 

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee, Blessed art Thou among women and Blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God Pray for Us now, and at the hour of our death - Amen.

Mary, Mother of God & Undoer of Knots, Pray for us!