Background

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. Toward the end of the eighteenth century a zealous Jesuit priest, Father Lalomia, started among the students of the Roman college of his Society the practice of dedicating May to Our Lady. The devotion, which others had promoted in a small way, soon spread to other Jesuit Colleges and to the entire Latin church. In the early years of the 19th century, it quickly spread throughout the Western Church, and, by the time of Pope Pius IX's declaration of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854, it had become universal and since that time it has been a regular feature of Catholic life.

There is no firm structure as to the content of a May devotion. It usually includes the singing of Marian anthems, readings from scriptures, and a sermon. Although prayers likely include the recitation of the Hail Mary, the rosary itself is not usually a part of this particular devotion. Catholics offer Mary special honor in May: pilgrimages, visits to churches dedicated to her, little sacrifices in her honor, periods of study and well-finished work offered up to her, and a more attentive recitation of the rosary.

The last devotion on May 31 is often followed by a solemn procession, during which a statue or portrait of the Virgin Mary is carried back into the church. Some May devotions may take place outside in a forest or a dedicated special place.

One particular practice characteristic of May devotions is the May Altar, whether in a church or as a "house altar" in the home. Marian devotions such as the rosary may take place within the family around this altar consisting of a table with a Marian picture, candles, and decorated with many May flowers The custom of the May Altar stems from southern European countries. With the development of May Altars in churches, the custom spread to set up this type of "altar" also in the home.

This specific devotion has been supported be several popes including Pope Pius XII in his encyclical Ingruentium malorum:

The custom of the family recitation of the Holy Rosary is a most efficacious means. What a sweet sight - most pleasing to God - when, at eventide, the Christian home resounds with the frequent repetition of praises in honor of the High Queen of Heaven! Then the Rosary, recited in the family, assembled before the image of the Virgin, in an admirable union of hearts, the parents and their children, who come back from their daily work. It unites them piously with those absent and those dead. It links all more tightly in a sweet bond of love, with the most Holy Virgin, who, like a loving mother, in the circle of her children, will be there bestowing upon them an abundance of the gifts of concord and family peace.

Veneration of Mary

In the Catholic Church, veneration of Mary, mother of Jesus encompasses various Marian devotions which includes prayer, pious acts, visual arts, poetry, and music devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Popes have encouraged it, while also taking steps to reform some manifestations of it. The Holy See has insisted on the importance of distinguishing "true from false devotion, and authentic doctrine from its deformations by excess or defect". There are significantly more titles, feasts, and venerative Marian practices among Roman Catholics than in other Christian traditions. 

Belief in the incarnation of God the Son through Mary is the basis for calling her the Mother of God, which was declared a dogma at the Council of Ephesus in 431. At the Second Vatican Council and in Pope John Paul II's encyclical Redemptoris Mater, she is spoken of also as Mother of the Church.

Growth of Roman Catholic veneration of Mary and Mariology has often come, not from official declarations, but from Marian writings of the saints, popular devotion, and at times reported Marian apparitions. The Holy See approves only a select few as worthy of belief; most recently the 2008 recognition of apparitions as far back as 1665.

Further pious veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary encouraged by Popes are exhibited in the canonical coronations granted to popular Marian images venerated in a particular locality all over the world, while Marian movements and societies with millions of members have arisen from belief in events such as Akita, Fátima, and Lourdes, and other reasons.

Scriptures About Blessed Virgin Mary

Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is deeply rooted in scripture. Below are some examples.

1. After hearing the announcement of the Angel Gabriel, “Hail Mary, full of grace” and the ensuing dialogue which revealed Elizabeth was pregnant with child, Mary went in haste to the home of Elizabeth and Zachariah.  After Mary’s greeting to Elizabeth, John the Baptist leaped in her womb for joy, causing Elizabeth to proclaim, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”  Elizabeth went on to acknowledge Mary as the mother of the Lord.  In the gospels, Elizabeth becomes the first to sing the praises of the Virgin Mary.
   
2. After Elizabeth proclaimed her praise of Mary, Mary went on to prophesy about future generations of Marian devotion in her Magnificat.  The New American Bible translates the phrase, “behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.”  In recounting her praise of God’s goodness to her and all of Israel, Mary understood that future generations would call her blessed because she was going to be the Mother of Jesus, the son of God.
   
3. The third example that we can draw upon from the scriptures is the example of Jesus himself.  As a son, He would have been obedient to His mother because he had received his human nature from her.  The Decalogue, (the Ten Commandments), exhorts us to honor our father and mother; Jesus was subject to this commandment.  By honoring His mother on earth, Jesus gave honor to His father in heaven.  And Jesus himself, while hanging from the cross in John’s gospel, entrusted Mary to John, and John to Mary.  By this very act, Mary became the mother of all believers.

Moreover, St. Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, writes: “I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me” (2:20). In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul says, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”  If we want Christ to live His life in us and through us, if we want to be imitators of Christ, we must have a filial love for the Virgin Mary.  Luke 2:51 tells us that Jesus “went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them.”  Jesus was subject to Mary and Joseph.  In imitation of Christ, we then turn to His Mother for intercession.

In the synoptic gospels, Jesus also addressed a specific question: Who are my mother and brothers?  To which he responded “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother” (Cf. Mk 3:31-35; Mt 12:46-50; Lk 8:19-21). Similarly, in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians 1:5 he describes our status as adopted children of God: “He destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will.” Through Christ, we have become sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters. As a family, we need a Father (God) and a mother, (Mary). In addition to Mary as our mother, we have a mother in the Church; as the adage goes, what can be said of Mary, can also be said of the Church.

Devotion to Mary should be natural for us as we look to her as a mother.  When we honour Mary, we honour Christ. As a Mother, she cares for her children and makes intercession for them. She asks the Father to bestow blessing upon them, which in turn has earned her the reward of being a mediatrix or distributrix of grace. God has accorded many privileges to Mary which have been made known through the teaching authority of the Church. She was preserved from the stain of original sin and was assumed body and soul into Heaven where she now reigns as Queen with her Son.

Magnificat

My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;

Because he has regarded the lowliness of his handmaid;

for, behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;

Because he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name;

And his mercy is from generation to generation

on those who fear him.

He has shown might with his arm,

he has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

He has put down the mighty from their thrones,

and has exalted the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has given help to Israel, his servant,

mindful of his mercy --

Even as he spoke to our fathers --

to Abraham and to his posterity forever.

A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful, who piously recite the canticle of the Magnificat.

Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Holy Mother of God, pray for us.

Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.

Mother of Christ, pray for us.

Mother of divine grace, pray for us.

Mother most pure, pray for us.

Mother most chaste, pray for us.

Mother inviolate, pray for us.

Mother undefiled, pray for us.

Mother most amiable, pray for us.

Mother most admirable, pray for us.

Mother of good counsel, pray for us.

Mother of our Creator, pray for us.

Mother of our Savior, pray for us.

Virgin most prudent, pray for us.

Virgin most venerable, pray for us.

Virgin most renowned, pray for us.

Virgin most powerful, pray for us.

Virgin most merciful, pray for us.

Virgin most faithful, pray for us.

Mirror of justice, pray for us.

Seat of wisdom, pray for us.

Cause of our joy, pray for us.

Spiritual vessel, pray for us.

Vessel of honour, pray for us.

Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us.

Mystical rose, pray for us.

Tower of David, pray for us.

Tower of ivory, pray for us.

House of gold, pray for us.

Ark of the covenant, pray for us.

Gate of heaven, pray for us.

Morning star, pray for us.

Health of the sick, pray for us.

Refuge of sinners, pray for us.

Comforter of the afflicted, Help of Christians, pray for us.

Queen of Angels, pray for us.

Queen of Patriarchs, pray for us.

Queen of Prophets, pray for us.

Queen of Apostles, pray for us.

Queen of Martyrs, pray for us.

Queen of Confessors, pray for us.

Queen of Virgins, pray for us.

Queen of all Saints, pray for us.

Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us.

Queen assumed into heaven, pray for us.

Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us.

Queen of Peace, pray for us.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord!

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord!

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray. Grant, we beg you, O Lord God, that we your servants, may enjoy lasting health of mind and body, and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, be delivered from present sorrow and enter into the joy of eternal happiness. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

During Advent

Let us pray. O God, you willed that, at the message of an angel, your Word should take flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary; grant to your suppliant people, that we, who believe her to be truly the Mother of God, may be helped by her intercession with you. Through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

From Christmas to the Purification

Let us pray. O God, by the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary, you bestowed upon the human race the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beg you, that we may feel the power of her intercession, through whom we have been made worthy to receive the Author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ your Son. Who lives and reigns with you forever and ever. R. Amen.

During Paschal time

Let us pray. O God, who by the Resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, granted joy to the whole world; grant, we beg you, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, his Mother, we may attain the joys of eternal life. Through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen. 

There are partial indulgence attached to the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.