The month of May will mirror the month of April in the realm of liturgical moratorium. Ohio bishops have decided to continue the suspension of Masses, and this will include the very special tradition known as May Crowning at your parish.

Pope Pius XII, of holy memory, addressed the Queenship of Our Lady in his encyclical, Ad Caeli Reginam, in October of 1954:

From the earliest ages of the catholic church a Christian people, whether in time of triumph or more especially in time of crisis, has addressed prayers of petition and hymns of praise and veneration to the Queen of Heaven. And never has that hope wavered which they placed in the Mother of the Divine King, Jesus Christ; nor has that faith ever failed by which we are taught that Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, reigns with a mother’s solicitude over the entire world, just as she is crowned in heavenly blessedness with the glory of a Queen.

What can we learn from this single paragraph? In the time of crisis, Catholics have addressed prayers to the Queen of Heaven. Who would argue that we are in a period of crisis? A terrible virus hurting people with physical sickness and death, and economic sickness and death; a Church which is submitting to Caesar, essentially abandoning the Faithful. Crisis may be too much an easy word here.

We are to Pray and Celebrate May Crowning, Even at Home

Thus, we are directed to plead to the Queen of Heaven, to intercede for us during the wide pandemic. Surely, there is not one better triumphant person to hear our prayers and deliver them to the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, than His own mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Perhaps its a great time to learn the Regina Caeli prayer in Latin, using our Guide to Latin Prayers. For we know that the devil does hate Latin!

And again, from Pope Pius XII:

May the powerful Queen of creation, whose radiant glance banishes storms and tempests and brings back cloudless skies, look upon these her innocent and tormented children with eyes of mercy; may the Virgin, who is able to subdue violence beneath her foot, grant to them that they may soon enjoy the rightful freedom to practice their religion openly, so that, while serving the cause of the Gospel, they may also contribute to the strength and progress of nations by their harmonious cooperation, by the practice of extraordinary virtues which are a glowing example in the midst of bitter trials.

Finally, we are encouraged to practice the tradition of May Crowning as best we can. Certainly, prayers and hymns in our home, before whatever image of Mary we may have. And, even if it only a picture, give her a crown and some flowers.

Enjoy May Crowning 2019 from St. Stephen.