The service started with hymns and a procession of the young girls into the parish. Two of my daughters were among them. They were all wearing veils, which was very cute. At the end of the procession two of the girls were lifted up and crowns were placed on the statues of Mary. After the crowning there was a prossession around the church while a litany was being sung. Once the procession came back inside the church, we all sang the Salve Regina. It was very fun for the kids and it is a great May devotion for Our Lady.
May devotions to Mary originated in Italy around the early eighteenth century. The Archbishop of Genoa recommended the May devotion as a devotion for the home. One of the common ways of doing it is by creating a shrine in a prominent location in the home. You could set up an Icon of Mary and place flowers around it, then say a prayer and sing a hymn each night around the time you say your family rosary. I believe Pope Pius XII in his encyclical Ingruentium Malorum recommends such devotions.
I plan on setting up a shrine this evening. Ill try and post pics of it.
Pax Tecum
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