May Crowning 2022
On Monday, May 2nd, the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago met on the second floor of the Sacred Heart Chapel in Our Lady of Victory Convent, to celebrate May Crowning. The Sisters began the ceremony with a Marian song called, “On this day, O beautiful Mother.” After the song, Sister Jean Therese Jarosz (assisted by Sister M. Francis Clare Radke) placed a wreath of flowers on a statue of Mary. Another wreath of flowers was placed on Mary – on a sculpture of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, on the wall of the Chapel. The Sisters sang “Bring Flowers of the Rarest,” during the crowning and “Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above.” Later the other statues of Mary around the chapel and convent were crowned.
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May Crowning is a special Catholic ritual and Marian devotion held during the month of May. This yearly tradition honors Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth. A wreath of flowers is placed on the head of a statue of Mary to crown her and honor her. The month of May has long been associated with the beginning of life and rebirth as the season of spring comes into full bloom. Thus, the May Crowning of Mary is symbolic of the start of the new spiritual season.
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Thanks to the Sisters for this beautiful ceremony and to Sister Jean Therese Jarosz for crowning the statues. Below are photos from the ceremony and the hymns to celebrate the May crowning.
This statue of Mary sits on the second floor of the Sacred Heart Chapel.
The Franciscan Sisters of Chicago gathered together on the second floor of the Sacred Heart Chapel for May Crowning.
Sister Jean Therese Jarosz stands with the crowned statue of Mary during the ceremony.
On this Day, O Beautiful Mother
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Refrain:
On this day, O beautiful Mother,
On this day we give you our love,
Near you, Madonna, fondly we hover,
Trusting your gentle care to prove.
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On this day we ask to share,
Dearest Mother, your sweet care;
Aid us ere our feet astray
Wander from your guiding way.
Repeat Refrain
Queen of Angels, deign to hear,
Lisping children’s humble prayer;
Young hearts gain, O Virgin pure,
Sweetly to yourself allure.
Repeat Refrain
Crowning song
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Bring Flowers of the Rarest
Bring flowers of the fairest,
Bring flowers of the rarest,
From garden and woodland
And hillside and vale;
Our full hearts are swelling,
Our glad voices telling
The praise of the loveliest
Rose of the vale.
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Refrain:
O Mary! We crown you with blossoms today
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May,
O Mary we crown you with blossoms
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May.
Our voices ascending, in harmony blending,
Oh! Thus may our hearts turn dear Mother, To you;
Oh! Thus shall we prove thee how truly We love you.
How Dark without May life’s journey would be.
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Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above
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Hail, holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria
Hail, Queen of Mercy and of love, O Maria.
Triumph, all ye Cherubim
Sing with us, ye Serpahim
Heaven and earth resound the hymn:
Salve, Salve, Salve Regina.
This sculpture hangs on the wall of the second floor of the Sacred Heart Chapel.
This crowned statue of Mary stands in the lobby of Our Lady of Victory Convent.
These statues are in the Sacred Heart Chapel.