During May, we honor Mary in a special way as it is one of the months dedicated to her by the Church. Many Catholics have a flood of grade school memories filled with May crownings, planting gardens or crafting flower crowns for the “Queen of May.” However, this year some may struggle with how to celebrate the beauty of Our Lady while staying at home.
Watch a replay of the cathedral's May Crowning HERE.
Like many families, emotions have been a roller coaster in our household since March. After three weeks of not leaving home, I was able to realize that I disliked not having control over my day. On Day 21 of being homebound, a Scripture reading reminded me that God invites us to surrender.
This May, our entire family is focusing on our best model of beautiful surrender -- Mary. In previous years, visiting grottos to pray or attending Mass and May crownings at school were our familiar routine. Due to circumstances, we are taking advantage of starting a new tradition: a May crowning at home.
After speaking with diocesan colleagues and pastors, I came to understand that there are only simple guidelines and a few essential items needed to celebrate a May crowning.
Step 1: Make Mary the focus
Any style, material or size of a Marian statue will work for a May crowning. There are many options for purchasing a statue, including local retailers or online. Big-box stores had a variety of statues as well as Amazon, and included free shipping in as few as four days. Upon arrival, I placed the statue on an elevated garden stone and sprinkled it with holy water while reciting a prayer.
Step 2: Construct a flower crown
Whether freshly picked flowers, silk or even pasted together with construction paper by your kids, the idea is to make a colorful, happy-feeling, arrangement that is fit for a queen. Flowers and decorations set the tone for the celebration. I had a faux arrangement from last summer that I twisted a part and added new greenery from around the house to make the crown. Our daughter also has a small statue of Mary in her room for which she made a paper flower crown.
Step 3: Song selection
Plan songs to sing for your May crowning. Download the lyrics in advance to “Immaculate Mary,” “Ave Maria,” or think of the traditional songs that may have been sung at a May crowning you attended.
Step 4: Host the May crowning
Having a May crowning near Mother’s Day (May 10 this year) seems ideal, however any day during May is an opportunity to honor Mary. Our family dressed up, even though we were only moving from the kitchen to the back patio. Our daughter served as the queen’s attendant and carried the flower crown. She was encouraged to pick out any dress from her closet that she felt was fancy and fit for a royal occasion.
As she processed down two steps and 3 feet over to the edge of the patio towards our Marian statue, my husband and I sang, “Hail Mary, Gentle Woman.” After the crown was placed on Mary’s head, we prayed the Hail Mary together. Individually, we each said a special intention for our grandmothers, mothers and other leading ladies in our lives.
Four simple steps and our family accomplished our at-home May crowning.
To conclude our celebration, we made a special treat using a recipe handed down by one of our grandmothers.
As we chatted about our experience, two words stood out: peace and revitalized.
And then I remembered that Mary is a vessel of peace and spring is a sign of new life.
Brooke Uehlein, is the communications manager for the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland.