May, the Month of Mary

The month of Mary is a tradition in the Catholic Church that goes back centuries. Honoring Mary with flowers originated in the Middle ages, extending through the 5th and 15th centuries in monasteries, most notably by Irish Saint Fiacre in the 7th century AD, who started the first known garden dedicated to Mary. A thirty day devotion called, Our Lady’s 30 Days, was observed in celebration and thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest, beginning with the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary on August 15th and ending with the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows on September 15th. Though the exact origin is unknown, the association between Mary and the month of May later developed in Italy during the eighteenth century, becoming widespread in the Church by the nineteenth century. May is when the flowers are blooming and spring has sprung; a time for renewal and fitting for the Easter season after the resurrection of Jesus. 

So why adorn statues of Mary with flowers? Because she is the Queen of Heaven. In monarchies throughout history, including the monarchy of King David, the mother of the king was the queen. In 1 Kings 1:16, 31 Bathsheba, as the wife of David, is obedient to her husband. In contrast, in 1 Kings 2:16-19 when her son Solomon takes the throne, not only does Bathsheba act as intercessor for Adonija’s request, but it is Solomon who bows to Bathsheba and has a seat for her at his right side. In Luke 1:43 Elizabeth addresses Mary as “the Mother of my Lord”, which in monarchical systems, is how one referred to the queen. Then in John 2:1 he recounts the wedding of Cana, emphasizing Mary’s role by telling us, “The mother of Jesus was there”, where she not only proceeds to intercede for the people when the wine has run out, but brings glorification to Jesus.  As the mother of the Divine King, we celebrate Mary as the Queen of Heaven.

No particular flowers are required for May Crowning or a Marian garden, but some of the more traditional ones that bloom in the spring are roses, marigolds, lilies, lavender, and carnations. Flowers even hold traditional meaning from the Middle Ages when many people couldn't read, so stained glass windows and flowers were used to teach religious education, naming them after the feast days on the liturgical calendar that coincided with the time of year they bloomed and for the characteristics found on the flowers.

One such flower would be the rose. The rosary is named for the rose, as the Latin word rosarium, means, ‘a garland of roses’. In early Christian history, monks used pebbles or strings with knots tied in them to pray the psalms. The Psalter, or prayers from the Book of Psalms, eventually developed into the rosary, symbolizing a garland of roses being presented to the Blessed Mother.

Another flower frequently used is the lily. The lily blooms in the spring and symbolizes purity and rebirth, which is why it is most associated with Easter and the Feast of the Annunciation (March 25th). The three petals also pointed to the Holy Trinity. In the Middle Ages, the lily, specifically the Sword Lily; a gladiolus flower from the Iris family, was named for the pointed leaves that were thought to mimic a sword, representing the sword that pierced the heart of Mary. Placing this flower in your Marian garden points to Jesus, as Mary always does. 

The Passion flower, named for the Passion of Christ, blooms in May. One special characteristic of the Passion Flower is that its petals only stay open for up to three days before it closes, although it continues to produce fruit. During the Middle Ages this came to symbolize the three nails in the Crucifixion, but there are other similarities as well. The significance of three’s points to the three years of Christ’s Ministry, the Trinity, the three times Peter denied Jesus and, thus, the three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. The petals were also thought to resemble the Crown of Thorns making it another fitting addition in a Marian garden.

Often, churches will celebrate May Crowning by reciting the rosary and placing a crown of flowers on a statue of Mary after Mass, honoring her as Queen of Heaven, while some will have a garden or grotto you can visit and pray in. There are several feasts days in May that can also be included in the celebration of Mary, like the feast of Our Lady of Fatima on the 13th, The Ascension on the 18th, and The Visitation on the 31st. You can find a full list of them here. Regardless of which flowers are used for May Crowning and Marian gardens, these May traditions and customs can be replicated at home to serve as reminders of Mary’s virtues and how we can imitate her and pray for her intercession in our lives.