Historically, May is a month dedicated by the Catholic Church to Mary, Mother of God. As is well known, Mary plays an important and irreplaceable role in the spiritual life of the Church.
For hundreds of years, the lovely words and melody of the hymn “Bring Flowers of the Rarest,” by Mary E. Walsh in 1871, has been gracing the beautiful traditional crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of May. This special devotion to Mary goes back officially to the 3rd century and continues today in countless Catholic churches, schools and homes throughout the world, and is a moving tribute of faith and love to the mother of God, and our heavenly mother.
Singing “Bring flowers of the rarest. Bring blossoms of the fairest. … O Mary! We crown thee with blossoms today, Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May,” a procession and crowning ceremony at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Grove City, on May 5, 2024, was led by Father Cory Mayer, the Pastor, and he was joined by children in the religious education program.
Prayer intentions were that all Catholics have “Mary’s soul to magnify the Lord and Mary’s spirit to exult in God!” This is the favor granted us in the noblest way in every Holy Communion. The crowned statue of Mary will be specially venerated in the sanctuary throughout May.
Similar May Crownings took place across the Diocese, using the same hymn, in honor of the Blessed Virgin seeking her intercessions from her Son, the Lord, on our behalf.
