May - Mary's Month - How do you plan on honoring our Mother this month?

[TrueLight]

I’m not sure how to increase my Rosary recitations (10 -15 per day now) But I have become more involved in my EF parish and will be leading the Rosary every Sunday for a while.

Our Mary Crowning was last weekend. Very beautiful.

May is one of my favorite months.

I have never seen a crowning. I hope I get to see one this year.

 

[SeekNFind]

I have been saying the rosary often. I also spent a little time praying before the statue of Mary after Mass today. Someone crowned her with a wreath of flowers. I felt like I took a good look at her and although I know it’s just an artistic representation, I felt like I was seeing Mary for the first time–full of compassion, serenity and grace. I’m contemplating getting a small statue of Mary for my apartment now, but I sometimes struggle with my Protestant feelings of “idol worship.”

 

[sw85]

I have been saying the rosary often. I also spent a little time praying before the statue of Mary after Mass today. Someone crowned her with a wreath of flowers. I felt like I took a good look at her and although I know it’s just an artistic representation, I felt like I was seeing Mary for the first time–full of compassion, serenity and grace. I’m contemplating getting a small statue of Mary for my apartment now, but I sometimes struggle with my Protestant feelings of “idol worship.”

Heh. Funny story. When I started entertaining the idea of becoming a Christian, but wasn’t sure where in “Christianity” I belonged, a friend took me to one of her services. She called it a Beptomethocostal church (i.e., Baptist/Methodists/Pentecostal). Needless to say, the “Methodist” aspect was extremely subtle. The Church was massive, I mean absolutely huge. But it had nothing in it that was obviously and recognizably a place of worship. The service was held in a gymnasium in which metal folding chairs had been set up. It was basically a giant community center. I looked around and saw no crosses, no statues, anything like that. It felt like stepping into a makeshift concert hall. I asked where all the Christian stuff was. She said “We don’t need them. They’re spiritual crutches.”

Well, I’m a spiritual cripple. I need crutches.

So I keep images and statutes around my room. I have a St. Michael’s statue, given to me by my wonderful and lovely girlfriend on the day of my baptism, since she knows I’m a big fan of his. A crucifix on my wall. Rosaries here and there. They are, indeed, crutches. They help me to coordinate my prayers to an outside object. The Protestant attitude here is extremely solipsistic and subjective; it’s all about their interior state. The Catholic emphasis on beauty, by contrast, is a good thing: it coordinates our senses to something that transcends us. The Protestant looks inward; the Catholic, upward.

 

[Melchior_1]

This May, I’m going to start trying out the Franciscan Crown.

 

[jwinch2]

That sounds awesome. I wonder if anyone does it in the U.S.?

The three parishes in our town do this with a statue of our Blessed Mother. If I remember properly, it is called “The Pilgrim Virgin” statue, or something along those lines, but I could be mistaken. People around town in one of the parishes take turns hosting the statue for a week and then people who are so inclined can come to their house daily to pray the rosary. Once the week is up, it goes to another home.

 

[jwinch2]

I have never seen a crowning. I hope I get to see one this year.

Our parish is doing the crowning next week. Since classes are now over for the semester, we plan on attending. It will be our first as well.

Peace,

 

[SeekNFind]

Heh. Funny story. When I started entertaining the idea of becoming a Christian, but wasn’t sure where in “Christianity” I belonged, a friend took me to one of her services. She called it a Beptomethocostal church (i.e., Baptist/Methodists/Pentecostal). Needless to say, the “Methodist” aspect was extremely subtle. The Church was massive, I mean absolutely huge. But it had nothing in it that was obviously and recognizably a place of worship. The service was held in a gymnasium in which metal folding chairs had been set up. It was basically a giant community center. I looked around and saw no crosses, no statues, anything like that. It felt like stepping into a makeshift concert hall. I asked where all the Christian stuff was. She said “We don’t need them. They’re spiritual crutches.”

Well, I’m a spiritual cripple. I need crutches.

So I keep images and statutes around my room. I have a St. Michael’s statue, given to me by my wonderful and lovely girlfriend on the day of my baptism, since she knows I’m a big fan of his. A crucifix on my wall. Rosaries here and there. They are, indeed, crutches. They help me to coordinate my prayers to an outside object. The Protestant attitude here is extremely solipsistic and subjective; it’s all about their interior state. The Catholic emphasis on beauty, by contrast, is a good thing: it coordinates our senses to something that transcends us. The Protestant looks inward; the Catholic, upward.

I guess I do as well. I have acquired some prayer cards (St. Therese, Guardian Angel, Memorare/Mary). I ended up with 3 crucifixes (but I plan to give one to my mother and the small one is on my nightstand. Haven’t decided where to hand the big one). I have 2 candles–one for St. Michael (whom I have developed a devotion to) and Our Lady of Guadaloupe. Baby steps, I keep telling myself, baby steps.

 

[sw85]

I guess I do as well. I have acquired some prayer cards (St. Therese, Guardian Angel, Memorare/Mary). I ended up with 3 crucifixes (but I plan to give one to my mother and the small one is on my nightstand. Haven’t decided where to hand the big one). I have 2 candles–one for St. Michael (whom I have developed a devotion to) and Our Lady of Guadaloupe. Baby steps, I keep telling myself, baby steps.

Hah, well, you’re already farther along in your eeeeeeebil Catholic idolatry and Mary-worship than me. St. Michael rocks. I often recite his prayers when I wake up in the dead of night, to ward off evil.

 

[Jguerra]

How do you plan on honoring our Mother this month?

Putting a jpeg of the Assumption of Mary on my computer monitor, cell phone and iPod Touch. Playing Marian gregorian chants while commuting to and from work.

Joe

 

[thomas_jd]

4 May Crownings:
3 Holy Hours
1 All night vigil
That is a good start.

 

[SeekNFind]

Hah, well, you’re already farther along in your eeeeeeebil Catholic idolatry and Mary-worship than me. St. Michael rocks I often recite his prayers when I wake up in the dead of night, to ward off evil.