May: the month of Mary - 10 May 2015 (S05E25b) (SS102fm podcast excerpt)

On this weeks programme John is joined by Ann, Michael and Martina as they share thoughts on May - the month of Mary.Popular tradition associates the month of May with devotion to Mary. Catholicculture.org reminds us that "The month of May is the "month which the piety of the faithful has especially dedicated to Our Blessed Lady," and it is the occasion for a "moving tribute of faith and love which Catholics in every part of the world [pay] to the Queen of Heaven. During this month Christians, both in church and in the privacy of the home, offer up to Mary from their hearts an especially fervent and loving homage of prayer and veneration. In this month, too, the benefits of God's mercy come down to us from her throne in greater abundance" (Paul VI: Encyclical on the Month of May, no. 1). This Christian custom of dedicating the month of May to the Blessed Virgin arose at the end of the 13th century. In this way, the Church was able to Christianize the secular feasts which were wont to take place at that time. In the 16th century, books appeared and fostered this devotion. The practice became especially popular among the members of the Jesuit Order — by 1700 it took hold among their students at the Roman College and a bit later it was publicly practiced in the Gesu Church in Rome. From there it spread to the whole Church. On this weeks programme we reflect on the importance of linking Mary with Scripture and her continued intercession for mankind are very important to keep in mind as we reflect on 'Our mother' too. She is the mother of our Church as well as our mother. She has appeared at various times of need and crises - Knock, Fatima and Lourdes to name a few and always asks us to Pray -always pointing to her Son, Jesus. The Rosary is a prayer asked to be prayed by Mary and contains 20 meditations of scripture which is an excellent way of keeping us in touch with the life Jesus and Mary. The family Rosary continues to be recited in homes around the world todayText us at +353 874668950 or email at [email protected]