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What will you do for the month of your Mother?
Virgin Mary and Christ Child stained glass at St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church in London, Ont., created in 1983 by artist Christopher Wallis.
Photo from Cody Barteet
April 23, 2026
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What are you doing for the month of May? Specifically, what are you doing for the month of Mary? “All hail to dear Mary / the patron of our way / to the fairest of all queens / be the fairest of seasons sweet May!”
I, for one, plan to go all out.
I didn’t always go all out for Mama Mary. Back in the day, I was a radical feminist. I thought the Blessed Virgin Mary was a shrinking violet who never asserted herself. My idea about her was sadly mistaken: I’ll just focus on Jesus because Mary isn’t necessary for my spiritual life. Ouch! Could I have been more errant?
When my radical feminism was slowly corrected, I began to see the “Virgin Most Powerful” more clearly and realized how unChristian and foolhardy it was to deprive oneself of so great a help, so great a Mother! Mary is God’s m.o.
If Jesus decided to come to earth through her, put Himself under her care, love and protection, it’s an invitation for us to do so as well (not to mention that from the beginning the Church turned to Mary, especially the saints who urge us to do likewise).
I’m sure everyone remembers their earthly mother (and/or mother figures) in some way on Mother’s Day, but how about remembering our heavenly Mother, who suffered so much for us, “that the thoughts of many hearts may be laid bare” (Luke 2:35)? Why else would Mary be able to see our hearts, if not to assist us in all of our troubles, great and small?
When I was in Grade 7 —a budding feminist—an actual nun came to our parish. She was only therea year, but made quite an impression on me. Sr. Justina was probably in her sixties or seventies, and so at peace with herself. She seemed to love God and the Catholic Faith at a time of what I call “great disgruntlement” in the Church. Everyone was complaining about the past, present and future of Catholicism. Everything was in flux. Everyone was trying to “find themselves”). But not Sr. Justina.
She knew who she was. She knew what she was about. She told us to wear a Miraculous Medal visibly for the month of May, which I did, even though I wasn’t sold on Our Lady yet. I got flack for it at my public school but didn’t care because Sr. Justina said to do it. We then had the first and last ever crowning of the Blessed Mother at our parish. These little inklings of devotion to Mary hovered in the background of my consciousness until my “conversion.”
Do you have kids or grandkids? Young people love rituals and symbols. Share with them May Marian traditions they can do or do with you. Why not do a May crowning at home? Why not do a May crowning at a chapel, parish or school? Do a Rosary walk every day, making sure to show your Rosary, by yourself or with others. Begin the First Five Saturdays Devotion, which was asked for by Our Lady of Fatima). Memorize beloved Marian prayers like The Memorare, The Angelus, We Fly To Thy Patronage" (Sub Tuum Praesidium, the oldest known invocation to Mary: 3rd century), the Litany of Loreto, the Hail Mary in Latin. Pray the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
If you’ve never formally consecrated/entrusted yourself to Our Lady, this May is your month! Pick a Marian feast day in May (or any other month), do a preparation for it. Books like St. Louis de Montfort’s “True Devotion…” or “Preparation for Consecration,” and “33 Days To Morning Glory” are very useful., Make your consecration! Renewing your consecration every year on the date you picked is a good custom. Praying a short prayer each day will remind you that you are Mary’s child e.g., “I am all Yours and all that I possess I offer to You, my lovable Jesus, through Mary, Your Most Holy Mother.”
Get a collection of Marian hymns and learn some of them (or just enjoy them). Put fresh flowers in front of a statue or image of Our Lady throughout May. Read books on Mary or watch videos explaining her many approved apparitions and messages to us through the years.
What will you do for the month of your Mother?
Sr. Helena Raphael Burns, fsp, is a Daughter of St. Paul X/Twitter: @srhelenaburns #medianuns MediaApostle.com Instagram: @medianunscanada
(Sr. Helena Raphael Burns, FSP, is a Daughter of St. Paul. She holds a Masters in Media Literacy Education and studied screenwriting at UCLA. HellBurns.com Twitter: @srhelenaburns #medianuns)
A version of this story appeared in the April 26, 2026, issue of The Catholic Registerwith the headline "Faith blooms in the Mary month of May".
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