May

May is the month when we honor Mary, the Mother of Jesus, because May is seen as the beginning of new life, the start of summer, and Mary who brought life into the world. To honor our heavenly mother, we crown her with flowers; this is called a “May Crowning”. The circle of the crown is a symbol of God’s love that never ends. Make a small crown of flowers for a statue of Mary in your home/garden, or attend a May Crowning at Church (ours is on Mother’s Day, May 14th, after the 10 a.m. mass).  

Another way we can honor our Mother is by saying the rosary. The Rosary means “Crown of Roses.”  Just as we give flowers for special occasions or when we visit a friend’s house, the Rosary is a prayer that gives Mary spiritual roses to tell Her we love her and to ask her to bring us close to Jesus through the mysteries of his birth, life, and death which Mary intimately was a part of. These mysteries are divided into four equal groups, known as Joyful (events from Jesus‘s birth and early years), Luminous (events from Jesus as the light of the world during his public ministry), Sorrowful (the passion and death of Jesus), and Glorious (the life of the risen Christ the gift of the Holy Spirit and Mary in heaven). You can pray whatever mysteries you choose, but the Church rotates saying these: 
Mon/Sat: Joyful Mysteries
Tus/Fri: Sorrowful Mysteries
Wed/Sun: Glorious Mysteries: 
Thurs: The Luminous Mysteries

We always start a Rosary on the crucifix with the Apostles Creed (a slightly abbreviated version of the Nicene Creed) followed by three Hail Marys for Faith, Hope, and Charity and then the Glory Be. Here are these prayers in full: 

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day, He rose again. He ascended into Heaven and was seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.

Before every mystery, we announce it and say Our Father. Then, ten Hail Marys while meditating on the mystery. We end with a Glory Be. Some people also say an additional prayer:  O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Your Mercy. Amen. 

After the 5th decade, in closing, we pray: 
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us. And after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray: 
O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation; grant us we pray that meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.