Sarah Mitchell
May is a significant month in the Catholic calendar, with several feast days and celebrations dedicated to saints and important figures. The month of May is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Catholics celebrate the Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola, who founded the Jesuits. May also includes Ascension Sunday, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, and the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Catholics observe these days with prayer, reflection, and special liturgical colours. The specific observances and their importance vary across countries and dioceses, with some nations celebrating their patron saints on Holy Days of Obligation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 29 May 2025 |
| Name | Ascension Day |
| Saint of the Day | St. Maximinus of Trier |
| Prayer of the Day | Prayer of St. Joseph for Protection |
| Month Dedicated to | The Blessed Virgin Mary |
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What You'll Learn
May is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary
May is a significant month in the Catholic Church as it is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus. This tradition is said to have begun in the 13th century, with the entire month filled with special observances and devotions to Mary. The month of May is an opportunity for Catholics worldwide to offer fervent prayer and veneration to Mary.
There are various ways in which Catholics honour the Blessed Virgin Mary during this month. One such way is through the traditional Roman Catholic ritual of the "May Crowning", where an image or statue of Mary is ceremonially crowned with flowers, accompanied by hymns. This custom is practised in Catholic parishes and homes, with young girls in dresses taking part in the procession. The crowning of Mary symbolises her role as the Queen of Heaven and the Mother of God.
Another practice characteristic of May devotions is the May Altar, which can be set up in churches or as a "house altar" in homes. The altar is dedicated to Mary and adorned with her picture, candles, and flowers. The custom of the May Altar originates from southern European countries. Catholics may also offer pilgrimages, visits to churches dedicated to Mary, recite the Rosary, and make sacrifices in her honour during this month.
The month of May is also significant in the Catholic Church as it falls within the liturgical season of Easter, symbolised by the colour white, which represents joy, purity, and innocence. The remainder of the month, beginning the Monday after Pentecost, is marked by Ordinary Time, represented by the colour green, symbolising hope and the anticipation of the coming of the Holy Spirit.
The Blessed Virgin Mary is deeply revered in the Catholic Church, and May provides a special opportunity for Catholics to express their devotion and seek spiritual enrichment through her intercession.
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Ascension Day is a Holy Day of Obligation
Ascension Day, also known as Ascension Thursday or the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, is a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics around the world. It is a day when the faithful celebrate Christ's ascension to Heaven, which occurred 40 days after his resurrection.
The date of Ascension Day varies each year, falling anytime between April 30 and June 3 on the Gregorian calendar used by the Catholic Church in the West. On the Julian calendar followed by Eastern Churches, it falls between May 13 and June 16. In 2025, Ascension Day will be observed on May 29.
In the United States, Ascension Day has been "transferred" to the Sunday following Ascension Thursday in most dioceses, leading many Catholics to believe it is no longer considered a Holy Day of Obligation. However, this is not the case in the ecclesiastical provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and Omaha (Nebraska), where Catholics are still required to attend Mass on Ascension Thursday.
Holy Days of Obligation are days on which Catholics are expected to attend Mass. They are opportunities for Catholics to gather as one body in Christ and recognise important tenets of their faith.
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Pentecost celebrations
Pentecost, also called Whit Sunday, Whitsunday, or Whitsun, is a Christian holiday commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles of Jesus. It is celebrated on the 49th day (50th day when inclusive counting is used) after Easter. Pentecost is a solemnity in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church.
The liturgical colour for many churches on Pentecost is green. It is traditional to wear red to church on Pentecost Sunday, as red represents the joy and fire of the Holy Spirit. In more traditional houses of worship, worship leaders and choirs wear red robes or vestments.
To prepare children for Pentecost, you can construct a Pentecost wheel to remind them of the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Begin using it seven days before Pentecost, discussing a gift of the Holy Spirit each night. You can also teach children the song "The Birthday of the Church (Pentecost)" to help them learn about Pentecost.
On the Saturday before Pentecost, families can read the account of Pentecost in Acts 2, the prophecy of Joel in Joel 2, and the following words from the Book of Common Prayer:
> O God, who on this day didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Savior, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
On Pentecost, it is important to attend the Divine Liturgy as a family. After the service on Sunday, you can say a few more prayers and make many prostrations.
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Trinity Sunday
Yes, there is a Catholic holy day in May—Trinity Sunday.
In the early 4th century, when the Arian heresy was spreading, the early church prepared an Office of Prayer with canticles, responses, a preface, and hymns, to be recited on Sundays to proclaim the Holy Trinity. During the Middle Ages, devotion to the Blessed Trinity was a highly important feature of private devotion and inspired several liturgical expressions.
In the Roman Catholic Church, Trinity Sunday is officially known as the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Before the Second Vatican Council reforms, it marked the end of a three-week period during which church weddings were forbidden. The liturgical colour for this day is white.
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Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola
The month of May in the Catholic liturgical calendar is dedicated to The Blessed Virgin Mary. The month begins with the liturgical colour white, which is a symbol of joy, purity, and innocence. The remainder of the month is represented by the liturgical colour green, a symbol of hope.
One of the Catholic holy days in May is the Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest. St. Ignatius, a Spaniard by birth, was born in 1491 to a noble family in Loyola, Cantabria. He first attended the court of the Catholic king and later pursued a military career. In 1521, a cannonball fractured his left leg during the siege of Pampeluna. While recovering from his injury, he read about Christ and the saints, which inspired him to devote himself wholly to God. He gave away his expensive clothing to a beggar and retired to Manresa, where he lived on bread and water and slept on the ground. He also fasted every day except Sunday and prayed through the night.
St. Ignatius went on to found the Jesuits, officially known as the Society of Jesus. He equipped himself for Christ's service by acquiring a classical and theological education. He added a fourth vow concerning missions to the usual three vows, binding the Jesuits closely to the Apostolic See. The Jesuits became crucial in the Church's battle against the spread of Protestantism in Europe.
Readings for the Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola include 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 and Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11.
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Frequently asked questions
The month of May is dedicated to The Blessed Virgin Mary.
Ascension Day, which falls on May 29, 2025, is a Holy Day of Obligation. Trinity Sunday, which falls on May 30, is also a Holy Day.
Holy Days of Obligation are days in which Catholics are obligated to attend Mass. They are opportunities for Catholics to recognise important tenets of their faith.
