"Month of Mary" Events, Prayers, and Resources

For centuries, the month of May has been dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God. During this month, Christians offer up to Mary from their hearts an especially loving homage of prayer and veneration. We turn to Mary in prayer because she helps us to say “yes” to God in our daily lives.

In his encyclical Mense Maio, Pope Paul VI wrote, "This is the month during which Christians, in their churches and their homes, offer the Virgin Mother more fervent and loving acts of homage and veneration; and it is the month in which a greater abundance of God's merciful gifts come down to us from our Mother's throne.”

A special web section has been created on the Diocese of Portland website to provide a list of special ceremonies and prayer opportunities being offered at Maine parishes this month, including crownings, Rosary rallies, and more. The list will be updated as events are confirmed. The section also features prayers, devotions, and other resources. To access the section and resources, visit www.portlanddiocese.org/celebrating-month-mary.

On May 13, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, commemorating the Blessed Mother's first appearance in Fatima, during which she urged the shepherd children to pray the Rosary every day. In addition to the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, the month of May also includes the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated on the Monday after Pentecost (May 29) and the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (May 31), commemorating Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth, who would soon give birth to St. John the Baptist.