"The May devotion in its present form originated at Rome where Father Latomia of the Roman College of the Society of Jesus, to counteract infidelity and immorality among the students, made a vow at the end of the eighteenth century to devote the month of May to Mary. From Rome the practice spread to the other Jesuit colleges and thence to nearly every Catholic church of the Latin rite. This practice is the oldest instance of a devotion extending over an entire month. Indulgences, three hundred days each day, by assisting at a public function or performing the devotion in private, plenary indulgence on any day of the month or on one of the first eight days of June under the usual conditions (Pius VII, 21 March, 1815, for ten years; 18 June, 1822 in perpetuum)." ~ New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia
Charlotte has created the most wonderful May Crowning Feast inspired by some of Our Lady's Titles in the Litany of Loreto:
Inspired by Charlotte, my Little Flowers group had a Marian Titles May Crowning Luncheon:
Kelly posted a whole day's worth of menu suggestions - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, including some beautiful "Fleur-di-lis Rolls":
Tiffany shares a lovely May Crowning Lunch:
Mary shares a wonderful series of posts highlighting some of the culinary herbs and flowers associated with Our Lady:
- Flavor the Month with Herbs for Our Lady
- Rosemary - Remembrance of Mary
- Thyme - The Virgin's Humility
- Summer Herbal Drinks with Mint and Lemon Balm
- Sugared Flowers for Mary's Month of May
Here are even more ideas in honor of Our Lady:
- Cupcake Rosary Link-Up (original post: Cupcake Rosary)
- Holy Name of Mary Cookies
- Mary Blue Jell-O Cake
- Holy Name of Mary, "Ave-Maria" (Cake)
- Blueberry Muffins for Our Lady
- Blueberry-Strawberry Cobbler in honor of Our Lady
- Rice Krispie Flower Crown for May Crowning
- Mum Cupcakes
- All these and many more can be found under the label for the Blessed Virgin Mary.
May 1, St. Joseph the Workman, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pt. of Carpenters (New, Trad.):
- Gingerbread Tool Box for St. Joseph the Worker
- Lily Sandwiches for Our Lady (The lily is a symbol of St. Joseph)
- Lily Lollipops for St. Joseph
- Nativity Cookies
- St. Joseph's Staff
- St. Joseph Raspberry Cream Cupcakes
- St. Joseph Sfinge (Cream Puffs)
- St. Joseph Salad
- Minestrone Soup
- Foods for St. Joseph's Altar
- St. Joseph's Day Altar (2012)
- Frittelle di San Guiseppe (St. Joseph's Fritters)
May 3rd, St. James the Just (New):
- Bread - A Staple of Liturgical Year Celebrations
- An Israeli Spread for the Feast of St. James the Just
May 3rd, St. Philip the Apostle (New):
May 4th, St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine, Pt. of mothers (Trad.):
- Feasts of St. Monica and St. Augustine (Dinner Recipe)
- Feasts of St. Augustine & St. Monica (Cake Recipe)
May 10, Blessed Damien Joseph de Veuster of Moloka'i (New):
May 11, Sts. Philip & James the Less (Trad.):
May 12, Bl. Imelda Lambertini, Pt. of First Communicants (Hist.):
*And other ideas for those celebrating their First Holy Communion
May 13, Our Lady of Fatima (New):
May 22, St. Rita of Cascia, Pt. of "impossible" cases (New; Trad./some places):
May 31, Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Elizabeth (New) and Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Trad.) :
"The mood of springtime informs the church's interior; nature's blossoming, the warm air of May evenings, human gladness in a world that is renewing itself -- all these things enter in. Veneration of Mary has its place in this very particular atmosphere, for she, the Virgin, shows us faith under its youthful aspect, as God's new beginning in a world that has grown old. In her we see the Christian life set forth as a youth-fulness of the heart, as beauty and a waiting readiness for what is to come."
My Queen! My Mother! Remember I am thine own. Keep me, guard me, as thy property and possession.
May 11, Sts. Philip & James the Less (Trad.):
- Bread - A Staple of Liturgical Year Celebrations
- An Ethiopian Dinner for the Feast of St. Philip
- An Israeli Spread for the Feast of St. James the Just
May 12, Bl. Imelda Lambertini, Pt. of First Communicants (Hist.):
*And other ideas for those celebrating their First Holy Communion
- From Thy Bounty Fair - First Communion Celebrations
- First Holy Communion Desserts
- First Holy Communion Breads
- First Communion - Prayers, Symbols, and Decorations
- Kids in the Kitchen
- Little Lamb of Jesus First Holy Communion Novena Treats
- Stained Glass Cookies
- First Holy Communion Cake and Link-Up
- Pure White Punch for Celebrating the Sacraments
- "My First Holy Communion" Party Favors
- Bread of Life :: First Communion Candy
May 13, Our Lady of Fatima (New):
- Portuguese Dish for Our Lady of Fatima
- Dancing Sun Cupcakes
- October 13th - The Miracle of the Sun (Cake)
- Fatima Miracle of the Sun Fruit Platter
- Spinning Sun Cake
May 18, Pope John Paul II's Birthday:
May 22, St. Rita of Cascia, Pt. of "impossible" cases (New; Trad./some places):
May 30, St. Joan of Arc (New, Trad.):
May 31, Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Elizabeth (New) and Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Trad.) :
- Simple Cupcake Crowns
- Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Crown Cake
- A Crown for our Queen
- See all May Crowning posts listed above.
"The mood of springtime informs the church's interior; nature's blossoming, the warm air of May evenings, human gladness in a world that is renewing itself -- all these things enter in. Veneration of Mary has its place in this very particular atmosphere, for she, the Virgin, shows us faith under its youthful aspect, as God's new beginning in a world that has grown old. In her we see the Christian life set forth as a youth-fulness of the heart, as beauty and a waiting readiness for what is to come."
-- Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Seek That Which is Above
My Queen! My Mother! Remember I am thine own. Keep me, guard me, as thy property and possession.
, is based on the theme "The Heaven's Tell God's Glory."
