ARCHBISHOP OF SEVILLE
MES DE MAYO, MES DE MARIA
On April 30, 1965 Pope Paul VI published a brief and beautiful encyclical entitled "Mes de Mayo", in which he confessed that when approaching this month eminently Marian filled him with joy thinking about moving spectacle of faith and love along the same is offered in all parts of the land in honor of the Queen of Heaven. "Indeed," added Pope-May is the month in which the temples and private houses up to Mary from the hearts of Christians the most fervent and loving homage of prayer and worship. " Probably today things are not like Paul VI the dream just four decades. Surely not in many parishes, and in most families remain dear pious practices that we honored the Virgin in the month of flowers in our seminaries, religious houses and schools, which many remember with nostalgia. No longer a disgrace since, as the same Paul VI states, while in the month of May we honor Mary, "from his throne down to us the most generous and abundant gifts of divine mercy. "
Since I am convinced that those devotional practices served us very much to take root in our hearts as children love and devotion to the Virgin, and I suggest to all the Christian communities of our diocese who have lost such practices, which endeavor to recover, for true devotion and genuine worship of the Virgin is always the path of conversion, interior life and pastoral dynamism. Mary is the path that leads to Christ. Every encounter with her ends in a meeting with his son. From his compassionate heart, we find easier access to the heart merciful Jesus.
Indeed, the Blessed Virgin occupies a central place in the mystery of Christ and the Church and, therefore, the devotion to Mary is in the very heart of Christian life. She is the mother of Jesus. She, as a pilgrim of faith, humble and confident accepted his mysterious motherhood, making possible the Incarnation of the Word. She was the first listener of his speech, his most faithful and attentive pupil, the true incarnation of the Gospel. She finally, at the foot of the Cross, we receive as children and became, through the mysterious plan of Providence of God, redeemer of all mankind. As mother and redeemer, is Mediatrix of all graces necessary for our salvation, our sanctification and our loyalty, which in any way obscures the unique mediation of Christ. Quite the contrary. This maternal mediation is loved by Christ and relies and depends on the merits of Christ and they get all their efficacy (LG 60).
motherhood of Mary and her co-redemptive mission remains today: it assumed and glorious in heaven, continues to act as a mother, with the active, effective and beneficial for us, their children, encouraging, enlivening and energize our Christian life. This has been the constant teaching of the Church through the centuries taught by the Fathers of the Church, lived in the liturgy, celebrated by medieval writers, taught by theologians and especially by the popes of the last two centuries.
why the devotion to the Virgin, to know, love and imitate, to live a filial and tender relationship with her, go to it every day, to honor her by praying the Angelus, the three Hail Mary, the rosary or other devotions recommended by the Church as the Flowers of May and the ninth of the Immaculate, is a motif that we can do without stir, the very pillars of our Christian life.
Indeed, Mary is the Ark Alliance, the place of our encounter with the Lord, refuge of sinners, comfort the afflicted and cure and help of Christians, it is the morning star that guides us in our pilgrimage through this world, she is health sick in body and soul. She is, finally, the cause of our joy and the guarantee of our fidelity.
Honor, then, to the Virgin every day of our life and especially in the month of May. Let us go to visit their shrines and chapels with love and a sense of penance. I repeat, it would be good in our parishes, Catholic schools and communities will be restored May Flowers or other similar devotions. The love and devotion to the Virgin is a formidable engine of spiritual dynamism, fidelity to the Gospel and apostolic vigor. Never end our day without having paid tribute to Our Lady subsidiary.
To all my fraternal greeting and my blessing.
+ Juan Jose Asenjo Pelegrina Archbishop of Seville
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