On Sunday, May 11, 2014 the First Communion Class will crown the Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven. This "May Crowning" has been done in many lands in different ways for many centuries.
In 1965, Pope Paul VI asked Catholics the world over to add a new layer of meaning to the Month of Mary. In the document "The Month of May", published during the last session of the Second Vatican Council, the Pope asked that the May Crownings and the gift of flowers to the Virgin Mary be an opportunity for increased prayer
1) for the effectiveness of Vatican II in renewing the whole Church, and
2) for peace throughout the world.
When the Council is finished, wrote the Pope, it must still be implemented. This requires that it be understood, accepted and bear "tangible, salutary fruit." It is a "weighty proposition," the Pope wrote, for the Catholic Church to renew itself, and the Council's implementation will determine the history of the Church. Without the intercession of Mary, Queen of Heaven, it is hard to imagine the Council's reforms succeeding.
We have survived two World Wars, wrote the Pope, but this has not led to world peace. Instead, new wars seem to threaten every day. We need the intercession of the Queen of Peace to help people turn away from sin and take the path of justice which alone leads to peace.
"You should know that we are particularly relying on the prayers of children," Pope Paul added, not only because they are the Church of tomorrow, but because even today their innocence is the voice of truth and "their pleas have special power to penetrate heaven and soften God's justice."
1) for the effectiveness of Vatican II in renewing the whole Church, and
2) for peace throughout the world.
When the Council is finished, wrote the Pope, it must still be implemented. This requires that it be understood, accepted and bear "tangible, salutary fruit." It is a "weighty proposition," the Pope wrote, for the Catholic Church to renew itself, and the Council's implementation will determine the history of the Church. Without the intercession of Mary, Queen of Heaven, it is hard to imagine the Council's reforms succeeding.
We have survived two World Wars, wrote the Pope, but this has not led to world peace. Instead, new wars seem to threaten every day. We need the intercession of the Queen of Peace to help people turn away from sin and take the path of justice which alone leads to peace.
"You should know that we are particularly relying on the prayers of children," Pope Paul added, not only because they are the Church of tomorrow, but because even today their innocence is the voice of truth and "their pleas have special power to penetrate heaven and soften God's justice."
Fr. Bob in the 80's
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