May, the Month of Mary

“Tra la! It’s May! The lusty month of May!
That lusty month when everyone goes
blissfully astray.”
 

So begins the Lerner and Loewe tune from “Camelot” which celebrates the sensuality of the new life of Spring along with the awakening of libido with some slightly naughty, double-entendred lyrics. It is, indeed, lovely to recognize and welcome the budding and blossoming of garden and orchard after the long spell of Winter in Vermont. Each and every bud and blossom should be celebrated as they come forth.
 
The earth is resplendent with Spring’s increased light, warmth and new growth. This month, with its profusion of blooms was adopted by our Church in the 17th century as a celebration of the flowering of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s maidenly spirituality. With its origins in Isaiah’s prophecy of the Virgin birth of the Messiah under the figure of the Blossoming Root of Jesse, the floral symbolism of Mary was extended by the early Church Fathers into many Old Testament passages of hope. Centuries later, Dante spoke of Mary as “the Rose wherein the Divine Word was made flesh.” One of Mary’s titles in the Litany of Loreto is Mystical Rose, and she is referred to in the medieval hymn “Lo, How a Rose e’er Blooming." So it seems fitting that we should honor her in this lovely month.
 
The first day of May, however, is dedicated to Saint Joseph the Worker. It was placed here by Pope Pius XII in 1955 to bring some faithful balance to the communist Worker’s Day celebration, but it’s pleasing to think of Our Blessed Mother sharing the first day of her month with her husband. There are three Feast Days of Mary in May: The 13th is the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, recalling her appearance to the three children, asking them to pray the Rosary and to pray for the conversion of Russia. We end the month with the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin to Saint Elizabeth on May 31st. In addition, we have a relatively new Feast: The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, a movable feast which falls on the Monday after Pentecost (May 24th this year). It is placed here since Pentecost has no Octave observance. It recalls Mary’s presence at that first Pentecost, as well as the Lord’s words to Saint John from the Cross, “Behold your Mother.”
 
Marian hymns will be worked into the celebration of Mass throughout this month, as well as our continuing to chant the Regina Caeli until Pentecost Sunday. The Latin words for this chant are provided on your hymn sheet; here they are in English:
 
Queen of heaven rejoice, alleluia:
For He whom you merited to bear, alleluia:
Has risen as He said, alleluia:
Pray to God for us, alleluia.