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The World's Salvation Began with a "Yes!"
May has long been associated with new life and blossoming beauty, and for centuries the Church has dedicated this month to honoring Mary, the Mother of God. The practice of giving an entire month to Mary spans cultures and eras, forming one of the most tender and enduring devotions in Catholic life.
Within Christian tradition, a more explicit devotion to Mary developed over time. During the Middle Ages, the Tricesimum, or “Thirty-Day Devotion to Mary,” emerged — a month‑long period of honoring Mary, though originally held from August 15 to September 14.
By the Baroque era, the idea of a dedicated “Mary Month” took clearer shape. Although not always in May, it involved thirty days of spiritual exercises in her honor. Eventually, these devotions were joined to the month of May, and by the 19th century, May was widely celebrated as Mary’s Month throughout the Catholic world.
The Church sets aside May to draw the faithful closer to Mary’s virtues — her humility, purity, obedience, and maternal care. Honoring Mary in May is not merely a tradition but an invitation to imitate her openness to God and to seek her intercession with renewed love.
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