Your news St. Emily gathers in evening to honor Mary
On Tuesday, May 14, St. Emily Catholic Church, Mount Prospect, celebrated a new focus on a centuries-old tradition, May Crowning.
May Crowning is a ceremony devoted to honoring Mary, the mother of Jesus. Catholics around the world partake in devotional ceremonies throughout May that consist of placing a crown of either flowers or gold upon the statue of Mary. Songs of devotion and scripture readings are an integral part of the ceremony.
“Many parishes will celebrate the May Crowning during the day with only the schoolchildren and teachers participating,” says Sister Danielle Jacob, pastoral minister for faith formation and organizer of the devotional ceremony.
“Our goal was to provide the entire parish an opportunity to honor Mary. The evening’s celebration was the first evening parish May Crowning in many years. The celebration was specifically designed to incorporate some traditional elements while also offering participants an often overlooked glimpse into the person of Mary. We honor her as Queen, but should also recognize her humanity in her struggle to respond to God’s call. We wanted to focus on helping everyone to understand the sacrifices Mary made within the stories of her life.”
One of the defining aspects of being Catholic is devotion to Mary. Eileen Hardiman, president of the St. Emily’s women’s club, said, “We identify with Mary as mothers and aspire to be like her. It is always important to continue the tradition of honoring Mary during May, the month that celebrates motherhood.
“Setting a special night aside from weekly Mass put a greater emphasis on the occasion. It was truly special. The focus of the ceremony was very beautiful and specific, as it covered her journey from the moment she said ‘yes’ to the angel Gabriel until she stood beside her dying son on the cross, through readings and reflections.
“We had excellent participation from all the various organizations throughout the parish and hope that our event grows in popularity throughout the coming years.”
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