“Hail, Mary! Full of grace, The Lord is with thee; Blessed are thou among women.” (Luke 1: 28) Blessed are you, Mary, the greatest and holiest woman! Blessed is your obedience and the fruit of your womb! How great is your motherhood, full of grace!

The Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the entire universe, is the Queen of Peace, the safe haven, and the source of all comfort and love. She accepted with all her heart God's will of salvation: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word," (Luke 1: 38) becoming a model of purity, obedience, and holiness. The Mother of God and the Mother of Light is the savior from adversity, the pride of creation, and the ocean of gifts from which we draw all strength and hope.

In honor of her and to glorify her love, the Catholic Church has dedicated an entire month to the Virgin Mary in May of each year. This month bears many Prayers and hymns to the Mother of God, asking for her protection and intercession. Believers flock to her Shrines to seek her blessing. This month is characterized by peace, hope, and purity, sowing joy, reassurance, and tranquility in the hearts of the believers. But when does this special Marian Month begin?

Historical Overview

The veneration of the Mother of God originated in Rome, specifically in one of the Jesuit schools, through one of the teachers, Father Lalumba. In fact, this month was dedicated to the worship of the god of evil and filth among the Romans and pagans. In Italy, it was dedicated to games, dancing, and amusements, which aroused suspicion.

So, Father Lalumba began gathering his students after school to talk with them about the Virgin Mary, her virtues, and how to emulate her, especially her purity. This was also done by many teachers in the Jesuit schools in Rome, and then in other Italian cities. This veneration also spread from Rome to France, then Germany and England, and from Europe to America and Asia, where Jesuit institutes and schools were located. Consequently, this veneration was incorporated into the Churches.

In 1815, Pope Pius VII publicly approved this veneration and invited the faithful to participate in the Prayers of this month. Pope Pius IX was also the first to celebrate the Marian month in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

It is worth noting that this month began to gain significance in the Middle East due to the work of Latin Missionaries and Evangelists, including the Jesuits, Capuchins, Franciscans, Dominicans, and Lazarist Fathers. Some sources indicate that the tradition is not new to the Eastern people, who had begun honoring the Virgin Mary in May approximately a thousand years before its beginning in the Western Church.

Prayers and Traditions

Many Prayers, hymns, and supplications are raised by the believers during the Marian Month with an unquenchable fervor of faith, confident that the Virgin Mary is their ardent intercessor and source of mercy. With great humility, they Pray the "Angelic Salutation," which carries many meanings of honor for the Mother of God.

On the rhythms of the Marian hymns such as "Under thy protection we fly, O Mary," "Your love, O Mary, is the ultimate goal," and others…, flowers bloom and their fragrance wafts through the traditional processions made by the believers in various countries and regions. They walk on pilgrimages, carrying candles and Prayer books, decorating the streets with their voices and the scent of incense.

The Rosary is one of the Prayers that has taken on a significant place in the lives of the believers, especially during the Marian Month, as the Virgin Mary insistently requests the recitation of the Holy Rosary. This insistence is evident in most of her messages to the world and in various apparitions, some of which included the Rosary as an encouragement to recite it.

The Virgin Mary embodied in her life patience, sacrifice, and compassion, and endured hardships and difficulties. May she be for us an example crowned with holiness, grace, and hope. Let us turn to her in times of hardship and throughout our lives, for she is love, warmth, and security.