“O Good Mother Mary,
O Immaculate Father Joseph…”
These are the opening lines of a Marian hymn that once resonated in the evening family prayers of the Syrian Catholic households of Kerala during the month of May. There was a time when May was observed with deep devotion and reverence as a month specially dedicated to the Blessed Mother. For this reason, May can truly be called a season of spiritual festivity for every Marian devotee. There is, indeed, no other month set apart in such a special way to honor the Immaculate Mother.
During the days of May, it was customary to beautifully decorate the Marian grotto, sing hymns in praise of the Mother, recite the prayers of the Month of Devotion and the Litany, and conclude the month with the preparation of pachor. These remain cherished Marian memories filled with nostalgia for a whole generation.
In the early Church, May 15 was observed as a feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Moreover, May 31 is celebrated as the Feast of the Visitation of Our Lady. It is recorded that St. Philip Neri used to decorate images of the Blessed Mother with flowers and sing hymns in her honor during the month of May. Historically, the devotion of the Month of May is said to have originated in Italy in the sixteenth century, from where it gradually spread to other countries.
According to one tradition, Fr. Latomia, a Jesuit priest and teacher, initiated this devotion in response to the moral decline he witnessed among his students in Rome. His intention was to entrust his students to the Blessed Mother and guide their lives toward goodness. As the spiritual power of this devotion became evident, it spread widely to other regions.
The formal recognition of the May devotion in the Church began in 1945 under Pope Pius XII. Later, Pope Paul VI, in his encyclical Mense Maio dated April 29, 1965, elaborated on the importance of this devotion and the abundant graces that flow from it.
At its core, the Month of May devotion is founded on one simple reality: our love for the Blessed Mother, our reverence, and our gratitude to the Mother of God. At a time when Pope Leo XIV calls for a renewed understanding of Marian devotion, it is our responsibility to preserve this devotion and piety without slipping into any form of exaggeration or misunderstanding.
If, in any way, the observance of the Month of May has weakened or been neglected among the younger generation, let each one of us strive to revive this rich tradition of faith. Those who are taught to love the Mother can never be rejected by the Son.
O Blessed Mother, Queen of the Month of May, reign in our lives and in our hearts.
