Three feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary this week

 The Blessed Virgin Mary 

Mother of the Church

Monday After Pentecost Sunday

Pentecost

El Greco [Web Gallery of Art]

The disciples devoted themselves with one accord to prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus (Cf Acts 1:14; Entrance Antiphon).

In 2018 the Church established the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church to be celebrated on the Monday after Pentecost Sunday.

Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

31 May

The Visitation

El Greco [Web Gallery of Art]

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exults in God my Saviour (Luke 1:36-37; Gospel).

I just marvel at the vibrancy of this painting of El Greco. For me it is a dance of life, Mary carrying the Word made flesh and Elizabeth carrying John the Baptist.

Our Lady, Virgin and Queen

31 May (Calendar of Missal of Pope St John XXIII)

The Coronation of the Virgin

Blessed Fra Angelico [Web Gallery of Art]

Let all rejoice in the Lord and make a festive day in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Introit).

In the calendar used by those who celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass in the Missal of Pope St John XXIII issued in 1962 this feast is celebrated on 31 May. However, this year that falls during the Octave of Pentecost, a First Class octave, and so the feast will not be celebrated this year.

Bring Flowers of the Rarest

This hymn, very popular in Ireland particularly in May, was written by Mary E. Walsh in the late 1800s. The words are here. It was sung by the late Irish tenor Frank Patterson at the Faith of Our Fathers concert in Dublin in 1997. Frank was a deeply committed Catholic and died in 2000 at the age of 61. May he rest in peace.

Garland of Flowers with Madonna and Child

Christiaen Luyck [Web Gallery of Art]