The month we, Catholics, turn even more of our attention to our Blessed Mother, asking her to intercede on our behalf with her son, Jesus Christ.

May, the first month of spring when snow vanishes,

Tiny dainty flowers bloom, birds chirp, bees buzz and

the fragrance of fresh air softly whispers through an opened window.

May is often seen as a month of new life and rebirth, making it the perfect month to venerate our Blessed Mother Mary.

My mom set up a May alter for Mary when I was a little girl. She put out a doily, a statue of Mary, and often a rosary nearby. As kids, we gathered dandelions and violets found in our front yard and put them in a tiny vase placed before the Blessed Mother. By bedtime, they were often drooping and sad looking, which gave us reason to go out and pick more the following day. I think Mary appreciated our efforts!

Below are a couple of my favorite Mary songs.

One of my favorite Mary Prayers

Hail Holy Queen

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, 
our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To you do we cry,
poor banished children of Eve. 
To you do we send up our sighs, 
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears 
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
your eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this exile
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb,
Jesus.
O clement, O loving, 
O sweet Virgin Mary.

The statue is from my grandma who brought it on sale at Madsen’s, where she worked in the meat dept. The rosary is from a friend and the purple flowers are from a special bouquet. The purple heart…well it just felt right!