THE CROWNING OF MARY BY OUR 1ST GRADERS
On Tuesday, our school community gathered for a beautiful and traditional Mass to honor Mary, the Mother of Jesus, through a special celebration known as the May Crowning. Held during the month of May—a month traditionally dedicated to Mary—this celebration gave our first graders the opportunity to show their love and devotion to our Heavenly Mother.
Origins of the Crowning of Mary
The May Crowning of Mary is a long-standing Catholic tradition honoring the Virgin Mary. Families and parishes have celebrated this devotion for generations by presenting Mary with a floral crown and other handmade offerings as signs of love and reverence.
The Traditions
Catholics have long honored the Blessed Virgin Mary throughout the month of May. Many Catholic churches create a special area featuring a statue or image of Mary surrounded by flowers and candles. This display remains throughout the month as a reminder of the importance of Mary in both the Church and our personal faith lives.
During the May Crowning, we honor Mary as the Mother of God and Queen of the Universe.
Why Mary?
Throughout history, May has become especially associated with Mary and is often referred to as the “Month of Mary” or the “Queen of May.” In medieval times, May marked the end of winter and the beginning of new life and growth. During this season, special devotions to Mary spread from Italy throughout the world.
Traditionally, many parishes pray the Rosary daily during May. The month often concludes with a Marian procession in which a statue or image of Mary is carried back into the church.
Mother, Not Goddess
It is important to remember that Catholics do not worship Mary as a goddess. Rather, we honor and venerate her as the Mother of Christ and Mother of God—the most important woman in our Catholic faith.
Mary was chosen by God to bear His Son and was conceived without original sin to become the perfect tabernacle of our Lord. Because of her special relationship with Jesus, she intercedes for us in a unique way. This is why Catholics often say, “To Jesus through Mary.”
The Meaning of the May Crowning
- Mary is Queen: By crowning Mary, we recognize her as Queen of Heaven and Earth and Queen of our hearts.
- Honoring Our Mother: Just as we honor our earthly mothers, we honor Mary as our spiritual mother.
- Springtime Tradition: May is a season of blooming flowers and new life. We use flowers to honor Mary because she brought the greatest new life into the world—Jesus.
- The Crown: The floral crown placed on Mary’s statue symbolizes her special role in God’s plan of salvation.
Key Moments of the Celebration
- The Mass began with a joyful procession as students carried flowers to place before the statue of Mary while singing Marian hymns.
- The congregation joined together in prayer and song, including beloved hymns such as Bring Flowers of the Rarest and Immaculate Mary.
- Fr. Martin reminded students that while we do not worship Mary as God, we honor her as the greatest saint and the mother of Jesus.
Why This Matters to First Graders
- Making Faith Real: The ceremony helps young students better understand Mary’s role and the beauty of our Catholic faith.
- Active Participation: Bringing flowers and witnessing the crowning allows students to feel personally connected to the life of the Church.
- Learning Tradition: The celebration passes down a treasured Catholic tradition that has been celebrated for centuries.
Special Elements of the Mass
- The Statue: A statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary decorated in white and blue.
- The Crown: A wreath of fresh or handmade flowers symbolizing purity and heaven.
- The Music: Traditional Marian hymns that created a prayerful and loving atmosphere.
May Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, continue to intercede for us and especially for our children, helping them grow in faith and virtue under the loving care of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Fr. Martin Masiisa
