In the Catholic Church the month of May has always been “Mary’s Month” when we have honored and recognized Mary’s role in our own personal as well as collective faiths lives.

This year for the first time in Church history, due to Pope Francis, there are three (3) Marian Feasts celebrated on the Church’s liturgical calendar. The Pope has added the Feast of the Role of Mary as Mother of the Church to our liturgical celebrations. The three feasts celebrated this month are: (1) Our Lady of Fatima on May 13th; (2) Mary, Mother of the Church on Pentecost Monday, May 21st; and, (3) The Feast of the Visitation on May 31st.

Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, from the Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts
suggests that this year we all find ways to come to be closer to Mary and so closer to Christ.
Father Chris offers three ways to connect or re-connect when Mary and her Son:

I. Pray the rosary everyday and receive the promised spiritual graces for doing this beau-tiful prayer. Remember, the rosary is not simply a “bunch” of Hail Mary’s but rather a meditation on the Mysteres of Christ’s life and saving action;

II. Consecrate or re-consecrate yourself to Mary. This might sound “different” but to connect with Mary in a spiritual way to come to know her more intimately and to depend on her ho-ly intercession. There is a recommended book from Fr. Christ entitled 33 Days to Morning Glory, written by Fr. Michael Gaitley. A 33-day journey to Marian consecration with four giants of Marian spirituality: St. Louis de Montfort, St. Maximilian Kolbe, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and Saint Pope John Paul II. Fr. Gaitley masterfully summa-rizes their teachings, making it easy to grasp, and simple enough to put into practice. More specifically, he weaves their thoughts into a user-friendly, do-it-yourself retreat that will bless even the busiest of people. So, if you’ve been thinking about entrusting yourself to Mary for the first time or if you’re simply looking to deepen and renew your devotion to her, 33 Days to Morning Glory is the right book to read and the perfect retreat to make; and,

III. Make a Marian pilgrimage. Right here in our own backyard, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts is the Shrine of the Divine Mercy. Go for the day and meditate, walk the outdoor Stations of the Cross and relax in a spiritual renewal of prayer, Mass and communion with God.

We can all use a bit of spiritual renewal and become closer to Christ--and who can help us more powerfully than Christ’s own mother--and our mother, too.
Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us!