May crowning: The tradition of honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary

By Caitlin Burm

Each month of May, a day is dedicated to caring mothers everywhere—and we Catholics also set aside the month to devote to our compassionate and Blessed Mother Mary.

For hundreds of years, churches have been celebrating the month with devotions to the Mother of God, according to German author, Kurt Küppers, who traced the origins of the May devotion to Italy in 1784. Küppers shared that by the early 19th century, May celebrations were practiced in as many as 20 churches in Belgium, France and Italy, and soon spread to other parts of Europe. These May dedications grew into "the most significant form of Marian devotion" by the middle of the 19^th century, Küppers stated, with local bishops and several popes, including Popes Pius XII and St. Paul VI, encouraging May devotions to the Blessed Mother.

 In 1987, in the “Order of Crowning an Image of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, the predecessor to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said:

 “The month of May is dedicated to the Queen of Heaven, as are all flowers. Early this month, a statue of the Virgin at church is crowned with a wreath of flowers, and flowers are laid at her feet.”

From this period on, an inestimable number of churches and schools in the United States have held May crownings for Our Lady, often selecting one child to place a crown of flowers on the head of Mary on the altar. Some communities celebrate their crowning in the beginning of the month, and others, near Mother’s Day, to honor Our Lady. Regardless, it is a celebration that most congregations look forward to all year long.

Diocese of Tucson Catholic school, Our Mother of Sorrows, recently held their May Crowning event for both parishioners and school children on May 1, 2025. The celebration began with a festive Maypole dance, which was followed by a procession to the church to crown the Blessed Mother Mary, while reciting the Rosary and viewing wonderful Marian posters that each school classroom had created. After arriving at church and receiving a blessing of flowers by Rev. George Holley, an eighth-grade student was selected to crown Mary, the Mother of God. Then, every child had the opportunity to present flowers at Mary's feet, while singing a Marian hymn.




Here is a summary of what some of our other Tucson Diocese parishes and schools are doing (or have done) this month to keep these May traditions alive:

Immaculate Heart School

Santa Cruz Catholic School

St. Cyril of Alexandria School
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School
St. Mark the Evangelist Parish
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School
San Xavier Del Bac Mission School
Like Mother Mary, may we all embrace God's will and come closer to Christ this month of May!