May Devotions
Litanies, Processions & Crownings

Traditional May devotions include crowning a statue of Mary, singing Marian hymns, praying for Mary's intercession, and honoring her in processions. This year we crowned the Our Lady of Fatima statue in a shrine near our home. 

It was an all-out Marian procession with banners, led by children and attended by several families. We processed from our home praying the Joyful Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary. 

When we arrived at the shrine the children threw rose petals and the youngest First Communicant girl crowned the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The youngest First Communicant boy held the crown on a pillow throughout the procession.

We sang Marian hymns then prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries in Latin. On the procession home, we prayed the Glorious Mysteries. We returned to our home for a dessert social hour. 

In the past we have made a beautiful crown of periwinkle and lilacs. We used to live near a beautiful Lourdes' grotto with statues of Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette. Other times we have crowned our little garden statue of Mary. Our best May procession ever is capture in the video below: 

May Devotions-May Crowning

If done with a large group of families, have the youngest First Communicant girl crown the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the youngest First Communicant boy carry the crown on a pillow.

If holding a private May crowning in your own home, have your oldest son process up with the crown on a pillow. Then have your oldest daughter take the crown and place it on Mary's head. Have everyone sing Bring Flowers of the Fairest. Afterwards you can pray the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary and sing more Marian hymns like Immaculate Mary and Ave Maria. 

Prayers and Hymns For May Devotions

The Rosary is the most appropriate prayer during the month of May. In fact the Rosary should be prayed daily all year. The litany of Loreto is another wonderful prayer for this time of year.

Litany Of Loreto

Lord, have mercy on us. (Christ have mercy on us.)
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. (Christ graciously hear us.) 
God, the Father of heaven, (have mercy on us.)
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, (have mercy on us.)
God the Holy Ghost, (have mercy on us.)
Holy Trinity, one God, (have mercy on us.)

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, (spare us, O Lord.)
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, (graciously hear us O Lord.)
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, (have mercy on us.) 

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. (That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.)

Let us pray. Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, unto us Thy servants, that we may rejoice in continual health of mind and body; and, by the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, may be delivered from present sadness, and enter into the joy of Thine eternal gladness. Through Christ our Lord. (Amen.)

A very lovely hymn is Bring Flowers of the Fairest. The Immaculate Mary is also very good. The traditional lyrics are the most inspiring. Other May devotions songs to choose from are O Sanctissima, Salve Regina, and Hail Holy Queen. 

Bring Flowers of the Fairest

Click for sheet music

Chorus: O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today,
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May,
O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today,
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May.

May Devotions-Marian Processions

Gather any large statues, religious tapestries, flags and/or pictures. Mount them so they will be easy to process with and have the leaders of the procession lead carrying them.

This simple preparation doesn't need to cost much and really takes a neighborhood procession to the next level. Have a man or boy lead the Rosary and make sure he is placed somewhere in the middle of the procession to keep the praying in unison.

Keeping a prayerful spirit is good. Limit conversation and if the planned prayers are complete before the procession is over, plan on singing some pilgrimage or marching songs. Our favorite is Green Grow The Rushes, Oh! 

If you want just a little more inspiration for Marian devotions, be sure to check out our Pelayo movie which celebrates the Marian apparition in Covadogna, Spain.

Pelayo a short film on the hero of the Asturias Mountains, of Spain and of all Christendom

I hope your May devotions are fruitful and increase your love for our Heavenly Mother.
God bless you!