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A Catholic May Crowning is a traditional devotion wherein a statue or image of the Blessed Virgin Mary is crowned with a wreath of flowers. Typically this is done on May 1st, which is also known as May Day, but this can also be done anytime during the month of May which is dedicated to Mary. This ceremony is a way for all of us to honor Mary as the Queen of Heaven and Earth and to express our love and devotion to her as our Mother.
Keep in mind that there is no official rite for a May Crowning within the home, classroom, or with a group. I have compiled this ceremony from various May Crownings that I have been to and felt were reverent, prayerful, and honoring of our Blessed Mother. Feel free to adapt and adopt what you need to for the needs of your household or group. Often a May Crowning will include prayers, hymns, Scripture readings, and reflections on the role of Mary in the life of the Church and in the lives of individual believers. And it is often accompanied by the recitation of the Rosary or other Marian prayers.
Performing a May Crowning ceremony at home or with a group can be a beautiful way to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary, especially during the month of May.
Here's a general outline of how you can do it:
1. Preparation:
Choose a suitable location for the ceremony, such as a prayer corner, garden, or a room with a small altar.
Gather a statue or picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary to crown. You can also decorate the area with flowers, candles, tablecloth, a crucifix, and any other symbols of devotion to Mary.
Create a crown for Mary using real or artificial flowers. I have a step by step tutorial for making a real flower crown which you can watch in this video. Click the button below.
I also have an heirloom crown that you can purchase here.
Decide on whether or not you will incorporate a short procession.
Print the prayers, hymns, and reflections that you would like the group to follow along with.
Invite family members or friends to participate in the ceremony.
2. Selecting Participants:
Choose someone to lead the prayers and Scripture readings. This could be a family member, a friend, or yourself.
Select individuals to participate in the crowning. This could include children, family members, or friends.
3. Order of the Ceremony:
Start together by taking a moment a silence to center yourself, your group, and your family for this time of prayer. Use the place where you will be crowning Mary as a focal point.
The leader can begin with an opening prayer, asking for God's blessing on the ceremony and for Mary's intercession. Here are some examples:
O Blessed Mother of God and our Mother too, protect our families and all the children of the world, especially the poor, hungry, and helpless. Teach us to remember that we are all brothers and sisters, children of God, now and forever.
O God, who have been pleased to gladden the world By the Resurrection of you Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, Grant, we pray, that through his Mother, the Virgin Mary, We may receive the joys of everlasting life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever. Amen.
As a group, recite the Rosary or a selection of Marian prayers. You can include prayers such as the Hail Mary, the Memorare, or the Hail Holy Queen.
Let one of the participants read a passage from the Bible that honors Mary, such as the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) or the Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-12).
Optional: Someone can offer a brief reflection on the Scripture reading or a few thoughts for the group to consider.
Sing or recite hymns dedicated to Mary, such as "Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above" or "Immaculate Mary."
If you have a procession, carry the statue or picture of Mary to the designated spot while singing or reciting one of the hymns mentioned above.
Once at the spot, offer the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Litany: Leader reads the title of Mary, the family members or group responds with “Pray for us!” Queen of Angels. . . Queen of Patriarchs and prophets. . . Queen of Apostles and martyrs. . . Queen of Confessors and virgins. . . Queen of all saints. . . Queen conceived without sin. . . Queen assumed into heaven. . . Queen of the Rosary. . . Queen of Peace. . . Leader: Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God. Group: That we may become worthy of the promises of Christ.
Crown the statue or picture of Mary with a wreath of flowers. You can use real or artificial flowers for the crown.
Conclude with the Consecration to Mary prayer, or another final prayer, and another Marian hymn.
Encourage participants to spend some time in personal prayer or reflection.
Remember to adapt the ceremony to suit the preferences and traditions of your group, and feel free to include any additional prayers or rituals that are meaningful to you. The most important thing is to approach the ceremony with reverence and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
I pray that you were able to gather helpful ideas for bringing this time-honored tradition into your home. Tell me how it went in the comments or by sharing pictures with me on Facebook or Instagram.
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