May is a month when we honor Mary in a special way. Catholic parishes typically perform “May Crowning” ceremony at First Communion. This year Pope Francis has invited all Catholics to turn to Mary and “rediscover the beauty of praying the Rosary at home”. Pope Francis' invitation to pray the Rosary. The Bishops of the United States are Consecrating the entire country to Mary on May 1. We invite you to view the Consecration on Facebook or Youtube.
You may consecrate yourself or your household to Mary. You may also crown Mary in your own home as part of that consecration. You can find instructions for these here: Marian Consecration & Crowning Mary, Option 1, Option 2, Option 3.
We invite you to pray the Rosary this month of May. Below is a schedule for Praying the Rosary with others in this time between the Diocesan Consecration and the Crowning of Mary. Please feel free to pray at any one or all of these times. It’s ok to pray just one decade of a Rosary if you are just getting started. You will find links to instructions on the Rosary and the Angelus below.
24 Hours with Mary:
Friday. 1 May:
- 3:00pm - Consecration to Mary with Bishop Boyea (See DOL Facebook or Youtube channel)
- 6:00pm – Rosary: The Sorrowful Mysteries (Instructions: PDF, website)
Saturday, 2 May:
- 12:00pm – The Angelus (Instructions: PDF, website)
- 12:05pm - Rosary: The Joyful Mysteries
- 2:00pm - Crowning of Mary with Bishop Boyea (See DOL Facebook or Youtube)
Pope Francis' Prayer to use at the end of the Rosary.
O Mary,
You shine continuously on our journey
as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who, at the foot of the cross,
were united with Jesus’ suffering,
and persevered in your faith.
“Protectress of the Roman people”,
you know our needs,
and we know that you will provide,
so that, as at Cana in Galilee,
joy and celebration may return
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the will of the Father
and to do what Jesus tells us.
For he took upon himself our suffering,
and burdened himself with our sorrows
to bring us, through the cross,
to the joy of the Resurrection.
Amen.
We fly to your protection,
O Holy Mother of God;
Do not despise our petitions
in our necessities,
but deliver us always
from every danger,
O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.