Last week on the motorway I was driving behind a van which was advertising something. (Actually I have no idea what!!!!) The advertising slogan they had used (and note this was in one of the most Catholic parts of the country) was ‘May is the month of…’ I think the final word might have been ‘money’!
All I can say is that the advertising backfired! The only way I could imagine finishing that sentence was MARY – ‘May is the month of Mary’!
What does that mean for us today? May is certainly a month of beauty in northern Europe – a spring month with long days, blossom and blue skies. A month of change and promise…
As a child I remember crowning a statue of Mary with a crown of blossoms – and in some of our schools the tradition has persisted.
The beauty of may flowers is simple, uncomplicated beauty. The blossoms, seeming fragile can withstand strong winds and storms, they are a lifeline to the emerging insects and so in turn for the nesting birds.
Perhaps this speaks to us too of Mary – a gentle presence in our life of faith, a beautiful, simple hand on our shoulder, guiding us towards her Son. A strong, nurturing presence – a refuge in the storms.
A traditional FCJ blessing prays:
May Mary,
Mother of God Counsel,
counsel and protect you.
Faithful Companions of Jesus 
It was lovely to read of your description of May in the Northern Hemisphere, Lynne. Whilst the Southern Hemisphere moves closer to winter in May your reflection on May as ‘a spring month with long days, blossom and blue skies. A month of change and promise…’ is a reminder of how in Mary’s life she experienced both joys and sorrows, inner darkness, the light of inspiration, fruitfulness and barrenness in nature but always with a sense of hope for the future no matter the season within her or around her.