Annually, May and October are months dedicated to Mother Mary in the Catholic Church. Two members of the Missionary Childhood Association ((MCA), Archdiocese of Lagos put forward their perspectives of these Marian months and the essence. Excerpts:
‘The May and October devotions date back to the 18th and 16th centuries’
May Devotion: The month of May is known as “Mary’s month”.
Reasons: This tradition dates back to the 13th century, although its popularity grew significantly in the 18th century. May is considered the height of spring, symbolising new life and beauty which are associated with Mary the mother of Jesus. Devotion during this month often include, the crowning of statues of Mary known as May Crowning and special Marian processions.
Practice: It is customary for Catholics to offer special prayers, hymns and devotions to Mary in the month of May. The Regina Ceali” is often recited and the Rosary is frequently prayed.
October Devotion: October is known as the “month of the Holy Rosary”.
Reason: This dedication stems from the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Celebrated on October 7th, the feast was established by Pope Pius V in 1571 to commemorate the victory of the Christian forces over the Ottoman Turks at the battle of Lepanto. A victory attributed to the intercession of Mary through the Rosary.
Practice: During October, the faithful are particularly encouraged to pray the Rosary, reflect on the mysteries of Christ’s life, and seek Mother Mary’s intercession. Both months highlight different aspects of Marian devotion and emphasise her importance in the life of the Church. May celebrates Mary as the Queen of May and the new life of spring, while October focuses on her role in the Rosary and its power as a tool for spiritual warfare and intercession.
• Glory Odion, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Ishawo, Ikorodu Deanery.
‘Months of May and October are dedicated to the veneration of Mother Mary’
The months of May and October are special months in the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar, dedicated to the veneration of the Virgin Mary mother of Jesus. May is the liturgical month of the Blessed Virgin Mary whose commemoration, according to the Catholic Encyclopaedia, dates back to the 17th century. The month of May became more solidified as a Marian month in 1945, when Pope Pius XII proclaimed May 31 as the feast day of the Queenship of Mary, and also based on the May 13, 1917 apparitions of Mary at Fatima in Portugal, which further affirms the month of May as a Marian month. On May 13, 1917, three young children, Lucia Santos and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco Morta were herding sheep, when they saw a woman “brighter than the sun, shedding rays of light clearer and stronger than the rays of the sun. The lady is said to have asked them to devote themselves to the Holy Trinity and to praying the Rosary every day, to bring peace to the world and an end to war”.
The month of October is dedicated as the month of the Most Holy Rosary, primarily because October 7th is the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary. Besides the two months, the Church also has other special days dedicated to the glorification of Mother Mary. One of such a day is August 15, which is the feast day of the Assumption of Mary into heaven. The Roman and Orthodox Catholic Churches believe that on this day, the Virgin Mary’s body was taken up into heaven at the end of her earthly life. The Assumption of Mary into heaven is one of the major feasts of the Catholic Church as said earlier. On August 22, the Roman Catholic Church celebrates a memorial in honour of the Queenship of Mary. The month of September is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows. She suffered such anguish when she watched her son’s passion and death (Luke 2:35). The Church celebrates Mary’s birthday in September. This feast day is exactly nine months after the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8. On December 8, we honour Mary Our Mother. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a Catholic feast celebrating Mary’s Conception without sin.
• Oyigbo Joan Afomachikum Ss. Mulumba & David Catholic Church, Surulere Deanery.
