"Bring flowers of the rarest, bring flowers of the fairest..."
If you grew up Catholic, you know the song. May is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the May Crowning is one of the sweetest traditions of the year. It signifies that Mary is Queen of our hearts and homes.
How to Do a Simple Home Crowning
What You Need:
- A statue or image of Mary.
- A small wreath of flowers (real or artificial).
- Candles.
The Ceremony:
- Procession: Walk to your home altar or garden statue singing a hymn (see below). Let the littlest child carry the crown.
- Prayer:
O God, who have given us Mary as our Mother and Queen, grant that we who crown her image on earth may allow her to reign in our hearts. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
- Crowning: Place the wreath on Mary's head.
- Litany: Pray the Litany of Loreto.
- Party: Have a "Mary's Tea Party" with blue treats (blueberries, blue frosting cupcakes) to celebrate.
Flower Symbolism
Make your bouquet meaningful!
- Roses: Mary is the "Mystical Rose."
- Lilies: Purity (St. Joseph's flower).
- Violets: Humility ("The violet of humility").
- Marigolds: "Mary's Gold."
Top 3 Hymns for May
- Bring Flowers of the Rarest: The classic. Upbeat and Victorian.
- Immaculate Mary (Ave Maria): The Lourdes hymn. Easy for kids to sing the refrain.
- Hail Holy Queen Enthroned Above (Salve Regina): Solemn and majestic.
Don't have a statue? Print an image from the internet and frame it! The point is love, not expensive art. Find the hymns and prayers on the MyPrayerTower app.