A Note From Fr. Timothy

Mary’s Month

May is a month devoted to Mary.  It is often marked by a May Crowning, where our love for Mary is shown by placing a crown (often woven from flowers) upon an image or statue of Mary.  This is typically down in the Church (often outside of Mass), but can and should be done in our homes as well. 

I encourage you to set up a shrine to Mary in your homes this month.  Do what you can to make it quiet and beautiful to honor our Blessed Mother and her virtue.  Then crown that image with flowers both physical and spiritual.  Offer her a bouquet of your prayers.  In particular we turn to Mary with prayers for peace in our world.  We ask her intercession as Mother of Priests to encourage new vocations in the Church and protect its shepherds.  And we pray that as spring blossoms and blooms in our land, that faith and eternal life may bloom in the hearts of all people.

The Regina Caeli (“Queen of Heaven”) is a Marian prayer and hymn rejoicing with Mary in the resurrection of her son, our Lord Jesus Christ.  It is said throughout the Church during the Easter season at the end of Night Prayer and in place of the Angelus at 6 a.m., noon, and 6 p.m.  Praying the Regina Caeli or a rosary each day this month could be a good tradition or practice to help you celebrate Mary in your life.  If you are unfamiliar with this beautiful prayer, it can be found below or on the back cover of our current issue of the missalette. 

We do not honor Mary only on the first day of the month, nor just one day at all at her crowning.  Rather, we honor Mary the entire month.  Let this be a time of devotion and prayer for you and your household.  That you may experience for yourself the motherly love of Mary, and that she may unfailingly lead you ever closer to her son Jesus.

Congratulations again to all those who have received their First Communion these last few weeks.  I always enjoy celebrating that landmark with the children, and hopefully you do as well.  Their joy and excitement at the opportunity to receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament should inspire us all to approach the altar of thanksgiving with that same enthusiasm.  May we never forget what a grace it is to be welcomed by God to his heavenly banquet.

Thank you to all who helped with faith formation this year and to all those who have been involved in teaching the faith to the next generation.  It is not an easy task, but hopefully we can continue a prayerful and joyful environment in which our children can encounter Jesus and experience a continual conversion of heart to him.

V. Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.

R. For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.

V. Has risen, as he said, alleluia.

R. Pray for us to God, alleluia.

V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.

R. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray. O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Regina Caeli (“Queen of Heaven”)

                                                     Fr. Timothy Gapinski