Our Many Marys

Blue abstract Christmas nativity scene.

OUR MANY MARYS: A CELEBRATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

  • A Month-long Tribute in May: "Our Many Marys" Display 
  • "Our Many Marys" Celebration on Saturday, May 17, 2025, starting with a bilingual Mass at 5:00 p.m.
    • Note: NO 4:00 & 6:00 p.m. Mass that day!
    • No charge for this event; free will offerings gratefully accepted!
  • What Image of Mary Do You Hold in Your Heart?

Join us for "Our Many Marys: A Celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary"

We invite you to this special event at our church, "Our Many Marys," a celebration honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary and the unique place she holds in each of our hearts.

 

A Month-Long Tribute: "Our Many Marys" Display

As May is traditionally the month dedicated to Mary, we encourage all parishioners to participate in a special display throughout the month. We invite you to bring your cherished pictures, statues, artifacts, icons, portraits, and other artistic representations of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the church. These items will be placed in a carefully arranged display around the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, located at the entrance to the Sanctuary. The display will be in place from May 3/4 through May 31/June 1.

To participate, label your item with your name. You can place your item on the exhibit when you arrive for Mass. We would also be grateful if you could provide a brief description explaining the item's significance to you, its origin, or any special meaning it holds. This will enrich the experience for all who view the display.

Please note that all items are brought in at your own risk. As a courtesy and precaution, please do not touch any other items when placing yours. Please do not handle any of the items on display after placing yours. Note that Community Exchange Commission members may relocate items throughout the month of May to feature different pieces. The display will remain in place until the weekend of May 31/June 1. Our dedicated Community Sharing volunteers will be present before and after Masses that weekend to ensure each item is safely returned to its rightful owner. We understand the sentimental value these items may hold, and we are committed to treating your treasured items with the utmost care and respect for the duration of the display. We appreciate your cooperation in maintaining the integrity of the display and ensuring a smooth return process for everyone involved. Your understanding and adherence to these guidelines are greatly appreciated.

 

The "Our Many Marys" Celebration: May 17

The highlight of our tribute to the Blessed Virgin Mary will be the "Our Many Marys" celebration on Saturday, May 17. The event will commence with a bilingual Mass at 5:00 p.m., during which all the Mary items displayed will be blessed by Fr. Matthew in a special ceremonial blessing. This Mass will be a beautiful and reverent occasion, uniting our community in prayer and devotion to Mary.

Following the Mass, we will gather as a community for a simple and joyful meal. We will be serving delicious tacos with a variety of fixings, along with chips. For dessert, we will have delectable pan dulce and cookies from Eileen's bakery. This will be a wonderful opportunity to socialize, share stories, and strengthen the bonds within our parish family.

After the meal, we are honored to have Deborah Organ, Director of the Lay Ministry Program at the University of St. Thomas, deliver a talk on the amazing role of Our Many Marys in our salvation history. Deborah's insights will undoubtedly enrich our understanding and appreciation of Mary's significance in our faith.

Throughout the Mass and parts of the event, we will be blessed with beautiful music and Marian hymns performed by the talented duo, Kevin & Jen Rotty. Their performance will certainly include the beloved "Ave Maria," adding to the spiritual atmosphere of the celebration.

 

What Image of Mary Do You Hold in Your Heart?

This event is a chance to reflect on the unique relationship each of us has with the Blessed Virgin Mary. What image do you hold in your heart? We all see her differently, shaped by our personal experiences, cultural backgrounds, and spiritual journeys. Many people turn to the "Hail Mary" in various situations, reaching out to the Blessed Virgin for comfort, guidance, and intercession. Different cultures celebrate Mary in diverse and beautiful ways, reflecting the universal appeal of her love and compassion.

 

We encourage you to consider what Mary means to you and to share that reflection with our community during this special month and celebration. Join us as we explore the many facets of Mary and her profound impact on our lives.

We look forward to welcoming you to "Our Many Marys" and sharing in this meaningful celebration of faith, community, and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

 

Contact Marianne Brass at [email protected] or call (952) 698-1714 with questions regarding this event.

Roman Catholic History Honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary

Roman Catholics have a deep history of honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary during the month of May. This devotion, which developed over the course of centuries in the West, spread and connected to Marian devotions indigenous to the Christian East, leading Catholics all over the world to make May a special time to praise God's Immaculate Mother.

The tradition dedicating May to Mary has deep historical roots:

  • Ancient times: The Greeks and Romans celebrated spring festivals to honor deities of fertility and beauty. In Ancient Rome, May was dedicated to Flora, the goddess of blooms, or blossoms. They celebrated ludi florals, or floral games at the end of April and asked the intercession of Flora for all that blooms.
  • Medieval times: Similar customs abounded, all centering around the practice of expelling winter, as May 1 was considered the start of new growth.During this period, the tradition to Tricesimum, or "Thirty-Day Devotion to Mary," came into being. Also called, "Lady Month," the event was held from August 15-September 14 and is still observed in some areas.
  • Baroque times: The idea of a month specifically dedicated to Mary began. The idea of a month dedicated specifically to Mary can be traced back to baroque times. Although it wasn't always held during May, Mary Month included thirty daily spiritual exercises honoring Mary. It was in this era that Mary's Month and May were combined, making May the Month of Mary with special devotions organized on each day throughout the month.
  • 19th century: The custom of May as month of Mary became widespread.

The ways Mary is honored in May is as varied as the people who honor her.

It's common for parishes to have daily recitation of the Rosary during May, and many erect a special May altar with a statue or picture of Mary as a reminder of Mary's month. Additionally, it's a long-standing tradition to crown the statue of Mary during May - a custom known as "May Crowning." Often, the crown is made of beautiful blossoms representing Mary's beauty and virtue. It's also a reminder to the faithful to strive to imitate our Blessed Mother's virtue in our own lives. May Crowning, in some areas, is a huge celebration and is usually done outside of Mass, although Mass may be celebrated before or after the actual crowning.

But May altars and crownings aren't just "church" things. We can and should be doing the same in our homes. When we echo the customs and traditions of the Church in our homes, our domestic churches, we participate more fully in the life of the Church.

Mary is Mother, everyone's mother, and she cares for all of us day in and day out without fail, interceding for us in even the tiniest matters.

 

Here at Risen Savior, let's set aside the entire month of May 2025 to celebrate and honor the Blessed Virgin Mary. See top of the page for details.

Contact: Marianne Brass, [email protected], (952) 698-1714