In the Catholic Church, May is traditionally set aside to honour the Blessed Virgin Mary, our spiritual mother and Queen of Heaven. For many converts - including myself - growing in devotion to Mary can feel uncomfortable. But reading about how the saints loved her, and how she always leads us closer to Jesus, has helped me open my heart. I’m still growing in my relationship with Mary, but I now see her as a true mother - gentle, loving, and always pointing me toward her Son. As St. Maximilian Kolbe said, "Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did."
If you’re looking for ways to deepen your devotion to Mary this month, here are some ideas:
Read about Mary
There are so many books about Mary, but one that really transformed my understanding of her and her role in salvation history is Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary by Brant Pitre. My sisterhood group read it together and it helped us see how deeply rooted Marian teachings are in Scripture and how her role unfolds through biblical typology - how the Old Testament foreshadows the New, and the New fulfills the Old.
Another favourite is The Imitation of Mary by Alexander de Rouville. It’s a quiet, meditative book that helps you reflect on Mary’s virtues and how to imitate her in everyday life. This is similar to The Imitation of Christ by Thomas Kempis.
(This post contains affiliate links to some of books I genuinely love. If you choose to purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your support helps me continue sharing resources like this for your family and prayer life.)
Introduce Your Children to Mary
A couple of lovely picture books are Our Lady’s Wardrobe and Our Lady’s Picture Book by Anthony DeStefano. These books are beautifully illustrated and help introduce young children to Mary through her different titles and apparitions.
You might also enjoy:
- Crowning a statue of Mary with flowers.
- Creating a small Mary garden, even in a pot.
- Letting your children place flowers by a statue or image of Mary -we keep a miniature vase on our home altar for those tiny flowers the children love to pick.
Pray the Rosary and Other Marian Prayers
The Rosary is one of the most powerful ways to grow closer to Mary and Jesus. If that feels like too much right now, you can start with just a decade. If you’re looking for a rosary to help you pray, you can find my handmade rosaries here.
You might also pray the Litany of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a beautiful way to ask for her intercession.
Another favourite of mine is this short daily prayer by St. Maximilian Kolbe. I say it every morning after my offering to renew my consecration to Mary - it is a good reminder that she is always here for me.
"O Immaculate Conception, Mary, my Mother, live in me, act in me, speak in and through me.
Think your thoughts in my mind, love through my heart.
Give me your own dispositions and feelings.
Teach, lead and guide me to Jesus.
Correct, enlighten and expand my entire personality and life.
Replace me with yourself.
Incline me to constant adoration and thanksgiving; pray in and through me.
Let me live in you and keep me in this union always."
Consider Consecrating Yourself to Mary
Marian consecration is a way of entrusting your whole self to her care, so she can lead you more fully to Jesus. Two excellent options for this:
- 33 Days to Morning Glory by Fr. Michael Gaitley (gentle and reflective)
- Total Consecration to Mary by St. Louis de Montfort (more traditional, longer)
If you prefer audio, the Hallow app offers audio versions of both.
Let the Saints Inspire You
So many saints have walked this path before us - full of love for Mary, and full of love for Jesus:
- St. John Paul II – His motto Totus Tuus ("Totally Yours") shows his deep trust in Mary.
- St. Maximilian Kolbe – Strong and fearless in his Marian devotion; he founded the Militia Immaculata.
- St. Louis de Montfort – Author of True Devotion to Mary, a cornerstone of Marian spirituality.
Whether you're just beginning to understand Mary’s role or you’ve walked with her for years, this month is a beautiful time to renew your devotion. She is always close, always gentle, always leading us to her Son.
If you’d like gentle encouragement throughout the liturgical year, you’re invited to join my Marian Graces newsletter. Each week I share reflections, devotional ideas, and resources to help you bring your faith into daily family life.
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