May: A Great Month
Laura DeMaria
Greeetings readers! It is May 1, which means a great month is getting started. Why is it a great month, you ask? Well, for one thing, because it is under the patronage, you could say, of St. Joseph, and also of Mary. Today, May 1, is the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. Did you know St. Joseph is such a significant saint in the Catholic tradition that he has two feast days? The other is on March 19. Technically March is “his” month, but I give him May, too,
As for Mary, in May we can pay special attention to the rosary: praying it, and learning its promises for its pray-ers, and contemplating the mysteries of her life alongside Jesus.
I will also point out that today begins the novena to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, a devotion popularized by Pope Francis during his pontificate. I have been for years - it might even be a decade at this point - using Pray More Novenas to keep on top of celebrating feast days. They email the day’s pray to you each day leading up to the feast day celebration. You can see all they do here and sign up for Our Lady, Undoer of Knots here. The feast day is not actually until September 28, but I am guessing Pray More Novenas is prioritizing this one because ‘tis the month of Mary.
Another good one: May 13 is the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. Huzzah! May is actually packed full of remembrances of special saints: St. Damian of Molokai (May 10), St. Phillip Neri (May 26), Joan of Arc (May 30), and the Visitation (May 31).
May 25 is also when the 50-day Easter season concludes. So, you are in good spiritual company this month as we move back into “ordinary time,” which, as we know, is just as important as a liturgical celebration. It is in the ordinary time that life really happens.
Lastly, I’ll put in a plug for my next radio appearance, which will be next Thursday, May 7 at about 8:25 am eastern. Find where you can listen here. Topic to be announced.
Have a blessed May!