Our Blessed Mother

05-04-2025Letter from the PastorFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In the Catholic Church, the month of May is dedicated to Our Blessed Mother. The May crowning is an act of popular devotion in honor of our Blessed Mother that is repeated every year as an expression of our love for Our Lady, and it is usually done during the month of May. Perhaps you or someone you know has some confusion about Mary and the role she has in our life.

The Church has always taught that Catholics believe our worship is due to God alone. Catholics do not worship Mary. Catholics worship God alone. However, Catholics do venerate Mary, and in May we honor her in a special way with our May Crowing. To show our love for our Blessed Mother is appropriate because she is the Mother of God, the Mother of Our Savior.

There are many reasons to honor Our Lady in beautiful ways. She is the model of perfect love and obedience to Our Lord. We know that God preserved Mary from sin. Sacred Scripture reminds us that Mary conceived Our Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit. As Catholics, it makes absolute sense to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is full of grace, the Mother of God and our Mother. Her "fiat" or "yes" to God made the Incarnation possible and without the birth of Christ, we would not have salvation.

Mary is the most beautiful example of giving oneself completely to the will of God. Catholics do not view Mary as equal to Christ, but rather venerate Mary because of her relationship to Christ. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, "Mary's role in the Church is inseparable from her union with Christ and flows directly from it" (CCC 964).

St. Bernadette reminds us how love leads us to Mary and Jesus when she said: “I shall spend every moment loving. One who loves does not notice her trials; or perhaps more accurately, she is able to love them. I shall do everything for Heaven, my true home. There I shall find my Mother in all the splendor of her glory. I shall delight with her in the joy of Jesus himself in perfect safety.”

The May crowning is a traditional devotion in which an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary is crowned, generally with a wreath of flowers. It is usually done within the context of a Mass. This act of devotion is done in the springtime, during the month of May to recognize Mary as Queen of Heaven, Queen of Earth, and Queen of Peace.

The Eastertime hymn Regina Caeli (O Queen of Heaven) sings of the Blessed Mother who rejoices in the Resurrection of her Son. Honoring Our Blessed Mother Mary points to the heart of our devotion to her. With the flowers of spring, we honor Our Blessed Mother and crown Mary the Queen of Heaven. As Catholics, we pray that we can respond to God's call to holiness for our lives in the way that Mary did.

Let us pray, also, for the College of Cardinals as they prepare to elect our next Pope.The process of selecting a new Pope is a complex one, guided by the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis. Here is a summary of the election procedures: Upon the death or resignation of a Pope, the Cardinal Camerlengo officially verifies the Pope's death. Next, there is the Convocation of Cardinals. This is when the Cardinal Dean (or another Cardinal in his name) is responsible for convoking all the Cardinal electors to Rome. These are Cardinals under the age of 80. Then there is the Conclave (assembly of Cardinals). The election takes place in the Sistine Chapel within Vatican City. This area is sealed off to ensure secrecy. The Cardinals are not allowed any contact with the outside world.

Who is eligible to be the next Pope? While it is customary to elect a Cardinal, any baptized male Catholic is technically eligible to be elected Pope. However, since the time of Urban VI (1378-1389) only Cardinals have been elected. The Cardinals participate in a secret ballot. A two-thirds majority is required for a successful election. Once a candidate receives the required majority and accepts the election, he becomes the new Pope. The new Pope is then presented to the world with the famous announcement "Habemus Papam" ("We have a Pope"). Given the secret nature of the conclave and the complexities of the process, it is impossible to predict with certainty who the next Pope will be. So let us pray God’s will be done.

Prayer for the Election of the New Pope
O God, Eternal Shepherd, who governs your flock with unfailing care, grant in your boundless fatherly love a pastor for your Church who will please you by his holiness and to us show watchful care. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

God Bless,

Fr. Don Kline
Pastor