Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth

 ***First I want to apologize for the layout of my blog recently.  Many of the pictures are missing and some in the sidebar are over-sized.  I am unsure of the reasons for these problems, but I am trying to resolve them.  Thank you for your patience.

***Also you can find a novena for Ascension Thursday at this post.  It would begin today in order to end on the vigil of the Feast of Ascension.
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During the month of May, which is dedicated by Holy Mother Church, to the Blessed Virgin Mary, one way to honor the Queen of heaven and earth is with a May Crowning, during which a statue of Mary is crowned with a wreath of flowers, honoring our Lady as Queen.  (The Feast of the Queenship of Mary traditionally is celebrated on May 31).  
A fitting prayer to recite during this month is "The Crown of Twelve Stars," written by St. John Calasanctius.  In this prayer we praise the Most Blessed Trinity in thanksgiving for the great gift of our Lady, our Queen, our Mother.  What a gift, too, our Lady is to her children!  Throughout the month of May and always, may we be mindful to thank God for Mary and to thank the Blessed Mother for her endless help.  Through her prayers and intercession for us, we are showered with God's grace and love.  Our most holy Mother is deserving of our prayers, thanks, and love!  

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"So your strength is failing you?  Why don't you tell your Mother about it:  'consolatrix affictorum, auxilium christianorum..., Spes nostra, Regina apostolorum' --'comforter of the afflicted, help of Christians..., our Hope, Queen of Apostles!'  Mother!  Call her with a loud voice.  She is listening to you; she sees you in danger, perhaps, and she--your holy Mother Mary--offers you, along with the grace of her Son, the refuge of her arms, the tenderness of her embrace... and you will find yourself with added strength for the new battle."--The Way (515-516)

The Crown of Twelve Stars

Let us offer praise and thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity, Who hath shown us the Virgin Mary, clothed with the sun, the moon between her feet, and on her head a mystic crown of twelve stars.
R. For ever and ever.  Amen.

Let us praise and thank the Divine Father, Who elected her for His daughter.
R. Amen. Recite an Our Father.

Praised be the Divine Father, Who predestined her to be the Mother of His Divine Son.
R. Amen. Recite a Hail Mary.

Praised be the Divine Father, Who preserved her from all stain in her conception.
R. Amen. Recite a Hail Mary.

Praised be the Divine Father, Who adorned her at birth with His most excellent gifts.
R. Amen. Recite a Hail Mary.

Praised be the Divine Father, Who gave her Saint Joseph to be her companion and most pure spouse.
R. Amen. Recite a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.

Let us praise and thank the Divine Son, Who chose her for His mother.
R. Amen. Recite an Our Father.

Praised be the Divine Son, Who became incarnate in her bosom and there abode for nine months.
R. Amen. Recite a Hail Mary.

Praised be the Divine Son, Who was born of her and was nourished at her breast.
R. Amen. Recite a Hail Mary.

Praised be the Divine Son, Who in His childhood willed to be taught by her.
R. Amen. Recite a Hail Mary.

Praised be the Divine Son, Who revealed to her the mystery of the Redemption of the world.
R. Amen. Recite a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.

Let us praise and thank the Holy Spirit, Who took her for His spouse.
R. Amen. Recite an Our Father.

Praised be the Holy Spirit, Who revealed first to her His Name of Holy Spirit.
R. Amen. Recite a Hail Mary.

Praised be the Holy Spirit, by Whose operation she was at once Virgin and Mother.
R. Amen. Recite a Hail Mary.

Praised be the Holy Spirit, by Whose power she was the living-temple of the ever-blessed Trinity.
R. Amen. Recite a Hail Mary.

Praised be the Holy Spirit, by Whom she was exalted in Heaven above every living creature.
R. Amen. Recite a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.

--St. Joseph Calasanctius

(The Raccolta)

God bless!

+JMJ+