As we enter the month of May, many Catholics around the world will partake in celebrations honoring the Blessed Mother as Mary, Mother of God, the “Queen of May.”
Churches and schools will honor her with May crowning ceremonies throughout the month. These ceremonies often include processions, laying flowers at her feet, and crowning her with flowers, signifying her as the Queen of Heaven.
The queenship of Mary was proclaimed by Pope Pius XII in his encyclical, “Ad Caeli Reginam” (“To the Queen of Heaven”), published on Oct. 11, 1954.
“From the earliest ages of the Catholic Church, a Christian people, whether in time of triumph or more especially in time of crisis, has addressed prayers of petition and hymns of praise and veneration to the Queen of Heaven,” the encyclical reads. “And never has that hope wavered which they placed in the Mother of the Divine King, Jesus Christ; nor has that faith ever failed by which we are taught that Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, reigns with a mother’s solicitude over the entire world, just as she is crowned in heavenly blessedness with the glory of a queen.”
Among the churches and schools hosting May Crownings throughout the month of May will be:
• Christ the King School, 3105 Belmont Blvd., during the 8 a.m. Mass on Tuesday, May 2.
• St. Matthew Church and School, 535 Sneed Road West, Franklin, following the 8 a.m. all school Mass on Tuesday, May 2.
• St. Ann School, 5105 Charlotte Ave., after the 8 a.m. Mass on Wednesday, May 3, at the church.
• St. Pius X Church, 2800 Tucker Road, Nashville, during the 8 a.m. school Mass on Friday, May 5.
• St. John Vianney School, 501 N. Water Ave., Gallatin, 9 a.m. on Friday, May 5.
• St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 421 N. Washington Ave., Cookeville, following the 10 a.m. First Communion Mass on Saturday, May 6 at the outside statue, and during the 1 p.m. Spanish Mass on Sunday, May 7 at the inside statue.
• Cathedral of the Incarnation, 2015 West End Ave., Nashville, during the 8:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, May 7.
• St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1900 Huntsville Hwy., Fayetteville, during the 8:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, May 7.
• Church of the Assumption, 1227 7th Ave. N., Nashville, at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 7, outdoors. The crowning will be led by the new Children of Mary Circle, along with the religious education classes for the year. All children are invited to participate and bring garden flowers to lay at the feet of Mary.
• Sacred Heart Church, 301 Church Street, Loretto, following the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, May 7, at the Mary Grotto between the school and rectory.
• St. Henry Church, 6401 Harding Pike, Nashville, during religious education class for kindergarten through eighth grade students on Sunday, May 7. First Communion students are encouraged to wear their celebration attire from the prior Sunday.
• St. Joseph Church, 1225 Gallatin Pike S., Madison, Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 13, followed by the 4:30 p.m. vigil Mass. A potluck dinner and fellowship will follow after Mass. For more information, email Irene C. Cepnio at IJRCepnio@gmail.com. A tradition among the Filipino community, Flores de Mayo is a ritual procession held on the last day of the Flores de Mayo novena that honors the finding of the True Cross by Helena of Constantinople.
• Immaculate Conception Church, 709 Franklin Street, Clarksville, during the 8 a.m. Mass on Sunday, May 14.
• St. Joseph Church, 304 American Blvd., St. Joseph in Lawrence County, during the 8 a.m. Mass on Sunday, May 14. All children are welcome to join in the procession by gathering in the little house before Mass to receive a rose to present to Mary at the crowning at the beginning of Mass.
• St. Ann Church, 5101 Charlotte Ave., Nashville, 10 a.m. Sunday, May 14, by the St. Ann English language Sunday School program.
• Mother Teresa Church, 2338 Rocky Fork Road, Nolensville, during the 10 a.m. Mass on Sunday, May 14. All children who would like to participate are asked to bring their own flowers to place at the feet of Mary at the beginning of Mass. All participating children will gather at the back of the gym to process in together.
If your parish is not listed, contact your parish office for more information.
