MARY'S MONTH

It is a centuries old custom to dedicate the month of May to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Special ceremonies and traditions are all a part of our Catholic memories. May Crownings take place the world over and they are probably the most loved of all the traditions associated with Mary's Month.  May Altars in classrooms and homes were also very popular at one time.  Of course the Rosary has always held a special place in the hearts of Catholics everywhere.  Therefore, in the beautiful month of May, many Catholics make a sincere effort to pray the Rosary daily.

May is Mary's month

Rosary Beads have been around for a long time. Henry VIII's flagship, Mary Rose, went down off the Isle of Wight in 1545.  Early in the 1980s, the Mary Rose was raised and many well preserved items were recovered.  Among the items was a wooden Rosary. There is even a  poem which describes Robin Hood at his devotions!

"Robin Hood, Robin Hood,

Telling his beads,

All in the greenwood

Among the green weeds."

Robin Hood, "telling his beads"

Those who made prayer beads were known as "Pater Nosterers" and they commonly worked in the area surrounding St Paul's Cathedral.  Here they would display and sell an array of Rosary Beads.

The Reformation Martyrs were known to be devoted to the Rosary.  It is said that as John Boste mounted the gallows he was praying the rosary.  In a letter from prison, Alexander Bryant said that he was saying the Rosary.  It is well documented that Scottish Martyr, John Ogilvie, carried his Rosary Beads to the gallows with him.  Just before he was pushed off the gallows, he threw his beads into the crowd.  They hit a Protestant man in the chest.  That man said he would have held on to the beads except the Catholics who were there made such  a dash for them that he was afraid to keep them.

St John Ogilvie throwing his Rosary Beads into the crowd

Even as we pray the Rosary, we are reminded of Our Mother Mary's compassion and willingness to help.  In the Second Joyful Mystery, "The Visitation", the young Mary hastens to the aid of her elderly cousin, Elizabeth, who is six months pregnant with her first child.  Then in the second Luminous Mystery, "The Wedding at Cana", Jesus performs His first miracle.  At Mary's intervention He turns water into wine, thereby saving the host and the young married couple from a sad and embarrassing situation.

The word "bead" is from the Old English "bede", meaning to "request in prayer".  In this May of 2020, so blighted by Covid 19, we would do well to turn to Mary and to "request in prayer" her aid in this horrendous pandemic.  At Fatima, Mary herself said "I am the lady of the Rosary; pray the Rosary daily".  Can we answer Mary's plea?  As we struggle with the terrible illness ravaging the world, let's all ask the help of Our Lady with a Rosary a day for the month of May.  Are you up to the challenge?  

"I am the lady of the Rosary"