Why is May called Mary’s month?

History of Marian Devotion

In the Church’s long history, the tradition is relatively young. It first came about in the 13th century, beginning with members of the Jesuit Order. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, “The May devotion in its present form originated at Rome where Father Latomia of the Roman College of the Society of Jesus, to counteract infidelity and immorality among the students, made a vow at the end of the eighteenth century to devote the month of May to Mary. From Rome the practice spread to the other Jesuit colleges and thence to nearly every Catholic church of the Latin rite.” The month of May might have been chosen because there were several popular Marian devotions centered in May.

Mary’s Month of May

In 1945, Pope Pius XII solidified May as a Marian month after establishing the feast of the Queenship of Mary on May 31st. After the Second Vatican Council, this feast was moved to August 22, but May remained the month of Mary.

Lady Month

However, dedicating an entire month to Mary is not a new tradition. One precursor is the medieval practice of the “Tricesimum,” also called “Lady Month.” This was a 30-day devotion to Mary that usually took place from August through September. 

What are the current Marian feast days in May? There are many, but the two most prominent are the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima (May 13) and the Visitation (May 31).

How can we honor Mary this month?

A traditional devotion during Mary’s month is the May crowning. Children crown a statue of Mary with flowers, usually roses, symbolizing Mary’s role as queen of heaven and earth. This is one way we can demonstrate our honor of the Blessed Mother.

But there are many other ways we can show our devotion to Mary: praying the Rosary, wearing the Miraculous Medal or Scapular, attending Mass on the first Saturday of the month. This month, consider some ways you can incorporate a special Marian devotion into your life.