May is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and this year the first 28 days of the Marian month fall within the Easter season. This Christian custom of dedicating the month of May to the Blessed Virgin arose at the end of the 13th century. The tradition of devoting 30 days to Mary is called Tricesimum, also known as "Lady Month."         

The practice became widespread in the early 18th century. This was mainly credited to the Society of Jesus in Rome. The Jesuits devoted the month of May to Mary to conteract infidelity and immorality among the students in their colleges. This took root among their students and was publicly practiced in the Gesu church in Rome. Owing to their numerous colleges worldwide, the devotion spread worldwide by the late 1700's. 

It was Pope Pius XII in 1945, through his encyclical, "Ad Caeli Reginam," who canonized May as a Marian month to coincide with the establishment of the feast of the Queenship of Mary on May 31st. However, after the Second Vatican Council, this feast was moved to August 22nd, and the feast of the Visitation of Mary took its place to complete the Month of Mary.

The most popular May tradition regarding the Blessed Virgin Mary is the recitation of the Holy Rosary in families, communities, and churches and the May Crowning of the statues or icons of Our Lady. Adjoining to these, many cultures also have 'May Queen' processions.

Let us take this occasion during this month of May to dedicate our prayers to Her by praying the Rosary, the Regina Caeli, or Angelus. Let us consider consecrating our homes and families to Her by honoring Her image in our homes. Most importantly, let us imitate our Blessed Lady, Her deep humility, lively faith, obedience, unceasing prayer, constant self-denial, unsurpassing purity, ardent love, heroic patience, angelic kindness, and heavenly wisdom!

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