The Mary Month of May
by Sarah Reinhard in Faith on Monday, May 03, 2010 6:00 AM
Here are a few of my favorite May Marian feasts, perfect if you’re looking for a special way to honor Mary this month:
Our Lady of China – May 9
Mary appeared as 10,000 rioters were attacking Tong Lu, “the place of beggars.” The rioters, distracted, began shooting at the sky and then suddenly turned and fled.
Father Wu later admitted that he had asked Mary for help. It turns out that the rebels were shooting at her, the woman in white hovering above the village. Since their bullets weren’t hurting her, the rioters had planned to reorganize when a strange horseman appeared, driving them away.
Father Wu commemorated this event by having the Madonna and Christ Child painted, dressed in the same royal robes as the Empress Tze-Hsi. The image was proclaimed Our Lady of China at the Synod of Shanghai in 1924.
Christians around the world can embrace this image of Mary, a royal Chinese empress, and remember those who face persecution around the world. We can stand united, through Our Lady of China’s intercession, and carry our crosses as we turn together to her Son.
Read more about Our Lady of China here.
Our Lady of Fatima – May 13
Our Lady of Fatima appeared to three young children just under 100 years ago, in 1917, in the fields near Fatima, Portugal. Before Mary appeared, though, the children met with an angel of peace three times, who taught them deeper reverence and specific prayers for their country and the world.
On May 13, 1917, the feast of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Mary first appeared to Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta. In each of her six apparitions over the five months between May and October, Mary reminded the children to pray the rosary daily. She asked them to pray for peace in the world and an end to war, even though they were only children.
In the Fatima apparitions, there are plenty of cool, unexplainable phenomena to discuss, but I find myself so often distracted by all of that. What I need, in my everyday life, is the application of Mary’s message so that I can live the importance of it.
I am easily distracted … instant this and that, online here and there … and in our Lady of Fatima, I am reminded to slow down and remember my priorities.
Learn more about Our Lady of Fatima and the apparitions here.
Help of Christians – May 24
Pope Pius VII was arrested by Napoleon I’s military forces on June 5, 1808, and held as a prisoner for three years in France. He was set free on March 17, 1814, the feast of Our Lady of Mercy.
On the march back to Rome, he visited many Marian shrines, crowning her image and attributing the Church victory to Mary. On May 24, he entered Rome to the cheers of crowds, and it was that date he chose to use as the feast of Mary, Help of Christians. The feast of Mary, Help of Christians, set for May 24, was not declared until 1815, after he had fled another attack and capture.
I’m inspired by these stories of ancient victories, though my battles involve laundry and housework, wasps and spiders, deadlines and colleagues. When I find myself stressed by these things, Mary, Help of Christians, comes to my aid. When the toddler awakes two hours early, ready for her day, when the preschooler just will not settle down for bed, when the day ends and my husband is working late—during those times, and so many others, Mary stands beside me, reminding me that her Son will help me in every little thing.
You’ll find the full story about Mary, Help of Christians here.
Mediatrix of All Graces – May 31
Just as my kids’ gifts of dandelions are transformed into lovely bouquets in my kitchen, my prayers – all of our prayers – are changed from ordinary dandelions into a magnificent bunch of roses, complete with all the trimmings, by Mary’s intercession.
As she does that, she’s mediating, acting out her title of Mediatrix of All Graces. She’s before us, thrilled to see us coming to her beloved Son, encouraging us to keep praying and spreading our humble bouquets all over heaven.
A mediator intervenes between two people, and when we look to Mary as our mediator (or mediatrix), we’re recognizing her role in leading us to her Son.
We honor her as Mediatrix of All Graces because of her special role as the Mother of God Made Man, Jesus. God uses many different instruments to help us in our journey through life, including the people around us, guardian angels, and the saints in heaven.
The Queen of Heaven is a natural mediator for each of us. She goes to the King with our offerings and He’s happy to receive our humble gifts and thrilled to see us, and that’s in part because His mother has brought them to Him.
Want more?
There are great ideas for celebrating May as well as an outline of the history of May devotion to Mary at the University of Dayton’s Mary Pages.
—Sarah Reinhard writes about Mary, motherhood, and more at SnoringScholar.com.
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