May Crowning

Photo by: Jason Russell ’16

Ben Pryor 16’

Staff Writer

As the month of May is now finally upon us, here at Nouvel we haven annual tradition of crowning Mary during the month of May. Although we all know what takes place at the May crowning, we may not all know why we crown Mary every month of May. However, the origins of the May Crowning is hard to truly understand where it started, although devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary originates in the earliest days of the church. Concerning the significance of the month of May, toward the end of the 18th century, Father Latonia of the Roman College of the Society of Jesus in Rome instituted the practice of dedicating this month to our Blessed Mother. His desire was to promote devotion to Mary among the students as a way to counteract infidelity and immorality. From Rome, the May devotion spread throughout the Jesuit colleges, and eventually throughout the whole church. Pope Pius VII in 1815 granted a partial indulgence for participating in either a public or private devotion honoring Mary during the month of May; Pope Pius IX made the indulgence plenary in 1859. This particular indulgence is no longer listed in the present Enchiridion of Indulgences, although numerous devotions to our Blessed Mother are, such as the recitation of the rosary or the Litany of Mary. Here at Nouvel, our May crowning ceremony consists of a procession with the crown of Mary followed by one or two songs and ending in prayer. Although, around the world there is no firm structure as to the content of a May devotion. It usually includes the singing of Marian anthems, readings from scriptures, and a sermon. Although prayers likely include the recitation of the Hail Mary, the rosary itself is not usually a part of this particular devotion. Catholics offer Mary special honor in May: pilgrimages, visits to churches dedicated to her, little sacrifices in her honor, periods of study and well-finished work offered up to her, and a more attentive recitation of the rosary.