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During May, many school communities celebrate the crowning of Mary, our mother. During the celebration, when possible, a statue of the Blessed Virgin is crowned with a garland or a crown of flowers, honouring Mary as “the Queen of May.” It is a moment where students can learn about Mary and how Mary can help them become better people. Here you can find some celebrations and resources related to the crowning of Mary.

May has been dedicated to Mary in many cultures. It is considered the season of new life in the Northern Hemisphere. In Roman culture, May was dedicated to Flora, the goddess of flowers and fertility. The Romans celebrated floral games at the end of April, asking the intercession of Flora for all that blooms. It is also related to the medieval practice of expelling winter.

The queen symbol was attributed to Mary because she was a perfect follower of Christ, the absolute “crown” of creation. She is the Mother of the Son of God, the messianic King. Mary is the Mother of Christ.

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High;
the Lord will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom, there will be no end (Luke 1:32-33)

Elizabeth greeted the Blessed Virgin pregnant with Jesus, as “the mother of my Lord” (Lk 1:41-43). The maid of Nazareth consented to God’s plan; she journeyed on the pilgrimage of faith; she listened to God’s Word and kept it in her heart; she remained steadfastly in close union with her Son all the way to the foot of the Cross; she persevered in prayer with the Church. Thus, in a way, she won the “crown of righteousness” (II Tim 4:8), the “crown of life” (Jas 1:12; Rev 2:10), and the “crown of glory” (I Pet 5:4) that is promised to those who follow Christ.

PowerPoint presentation for a 10-minute assembly

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10-minute feature about Mary. Thanks to fr Osmar Baldacchino and the educators at St Theresa College Secondary School, Mrieħel.

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How to Pray the Rosary with Children

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross

“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

2. Say the Apostles’ Creed (Short Version)

“I believe in God the Father who created us.
I believe in Jesus, His Son, who died and rose for us.
I believe in the Holy Spirit and that we are all part of the Church. Amen.”

(Or use the full version if appropriate for the age group)

3. Say:

  • 1 Our Father

“Our Father, who art in heaven…”

4. Say:

  • 3 Hail Marys

“Hail Mary, full of grace…”
These are offered for: Faith, Hope, and Charity (Love).

5. Say:

  • 1 Glory Be

“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit…”

6. Announce the First Mystery (of 5)

Use the appropriate Mysteries for the day:

  • Monday & Saturday – Joyful Mysteries
  • Tuesday & Friday – Sorrowful Mysteries
  • Wednesday & Sunday – Glorious Mysteries
  • Thursday – Luminous Mysteries

Example:

“The First Joyful Mystery: The Angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will be the Mother of Jesus.”

7. For Each Mystery:

  1. Brief reflection or explanation (can include an image or story)
  2. 1 Our Father
  3. 10 Hail Marys
  4. 1 Glory Be
  5. (Optional) Fatima Prayer

“O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell.
Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.”

Repeat this for all five mysteries.

8. After All 5 Mysteries:

  • Hail Holy Queen (optional, depending on age)

“Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy…”

9. Say Intentions Together

Invite the children to pray for:

  • Their families
  • Their friends
  • Peace in the world
  • People who are sick or in need

10. Close with a Short Prayer and Final Blessing

  • Example Prayer:

“Dear God, help us love like Jesus, and be close to Mary, our Mother.”

  • Final Sign of the Cross

“In the name of the Father…”

Tips for Educators and Parents:

For very young children, consider praying just one decade (1 Our Father + 10 Hail Marys), or even just part of a decade

Use large or child-friendly rosary beads

Show pictures or icons of each mystery

Maintain a slow, peaceful rhythm

Kif Ngħidu r-Rużarju Mat-Tfal

1. Ibda b’Sinjal tas-Salib

“F’isem il-Missier, u l-Iben, u l-Ispirtu s-Santu. Amen.”

2. Itlob il-Kredu (f’forma qasira)

“Nemmen f’Alla l-Missier, li ħalaqna. Nemmen f’Ġesù, Bin Alla, li miet u qam għalina. Nemmen fl-Ispirtu s-Santu, u li aħna lkoll parti mill-Knisja. Amen.”

(Jew uża verżjoni sħiħa skont l-età)

3. Itlob 1 Darbiet:

  • Missierna

“Missierna li inti fis-smewwiet…”

4. Itlob 3 Darbiet:

  • Sliema Għalik Marija

“Sliem għalik Marija…”
Għal: Fidi, Tama u Mħabba

5. Itlob:

  • Glorja

“Glorja lill-Missier, lill-Iben, u lill-Ispirtu s-Santu…”

6. Ħabbar il-Misteru (1 ta’ 5)

  • Qabbel il-jum mal-Misteri:
    • It-Tnejn u s-Sibt: Misteri tal-Ferħ
    • It-Tlieta u l-Ġimgħa: Misteri tad-Dwejjaq
    • L-Erbgħa u l-Ħadd: Misteri tal-Għolja
    • Il-Ħamis: Misteri tad-Dawl

Eżempju:

“L-ewwel Misteru tal-Ferħ: L-Anġlu jħabbar lil Marija li se ssir omm Ġesù.”

7. Għal Kull Misteru:

  1. Riflessjoni qasira (bl-ispjega jew b’ritratt/grafika)
  2. 1 Missierna
  3. 10 Sliema Għalik Marija
  4. 1 Glorja
  5. (Jekk tridu) Talba ta’ Fatima

“O Ġesù tiegħi, aħfrilna dnubietna…”

8. Wara l-5 Misteri:

  • Salve Regina (jekk l-età tippermetti)

“Sliem għalik, Reġina…”

9. Itlob għal Intenzjonijiet

  • Itlob flimkien mal-ulied għal:
    • Familji
    • Sħabhom
    • Il-paċi fid-dinja
    • Dawk li qed ibatu

10. Itlaq bit-Talba u l-Barka

  • Talba għall-Qdusija

“Alla tiegħi, għinni nħobb bħal Ġesù.”

  • Sinjal tas-Salib biex jintemm

“F’isem il-Missier…”

Għajnuniet għall-Edukaturi:

Uri grafika jew pitturi tal-misteri.

  • Żomm ritmu sempliċi u ton ta’ paċi.
  • Jekk it-tfal huma żgħar ħafna, tista’ tagħżel sempliċement misteru wieħed biss kuljum jew saħansitra nofs posta.

Mary, we wish to crown you to 

acknowledge our gratitude to you for your part in the coming of Jesus Christ and,  hence, in the redemption of the world. 

We trust that in the future, you will take the destiny of our world and of our nation into your powerful yet kind and motherly hands.

Take our flowers for your crown. Let them represent our wish to wind your wreath of joy and thanksgiving for the coming era.  Be our Queen! 

Grant peace and joy to our hearts; grant peace and joy to our families; grant peace and joy to our school.

Lead our nation to follow paths of justice,  and assist each of us to be worthy to wear the crown of our calling, that the Lord has prepared for us at the end of our journey.

The day will come when God will call us to leave our home for the eternal kingdom.  Mary, we ask you to remain here to strengthen our faith and to help us find our home in the heart of God.

Queen of the May

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Bring the flowers of the rarest,
Bring blossoms the fairest,
From garden and woodland
and hillside and vale.

Our full hearts are swelling,
Our glad voices telling
The praise of the loveliest, flower of the vale.

Rit/ O Mary we crown thee with blossoms  today
Queen of the angels and Queen of the  May. (x2)

Their Lady they name thee
Their Mistress proclaim thee
Ah! Grant that thy children on earth be as  true
As long as the bowers are radiant with  flowers
As long as the azure shall keep its bright hue. O Mary…

Our voices ascending in harmony blending,
Oh! Thus may our hearts turn,
Dear Mother, to thee;
And thus shall we prove thee,
How truly we love thee
How dark without Mary, 
life’s journey would be. O Mary…

Lady so Fair

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Lady so fair, listen to me,
Lovelier you are
By far than I can say.

Listen to me (2)

Mother of truth, guide our youth,
Keep them true and close to you,
And they’ll win through.

Listen to me (2)

Mother of light, shine in our night,
Show us the road, share our load,
And we’ll find peace.

Listen to me (2)

Mother of pain, be once again,
She who cars, the burden shares,
And heals all ills,

Listen to me (2)

Mother of love, stoop from above,
Soften our hearts, take our part,
And we’ll spread love,

Listen to me (2)

Mother of God, give us the grace,
Then we’ll see, Like thee Christ’s own face,

Listen to me (2)

Fil-ħlewwa ta’ Mejju

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Fil-ħlewwa ta’ Mejju,
Omm tagħna Marija
O kemm idoqq ħlejju dak ismek sabiħ
Kemm toħroġ qawwija
Dil-kelma minn qalbna
Bit-tama li talbna jagħtik l-akbar ġieħ.

Rit:
Int l-għaxqa tas-sema
Ix-xemx tal-ħolqien
Int l-omm ta’ min ħalqek
Bik mimli kull żmien.

Jekk tiftaħ fil-ġonna il-warda Maltija
Tfakkarna o Madonna fil-lewn ta’ ħaddejk
Jekk tidħak id-dija tal-kwiekeb irżina
Tfakkarna o ħanina fid-dawl ta’ għajnejk Rit:

Minn dejjem bint Alla, nadifa mill-ħtija
Infrixt bħal qawsalla fuq ras il-bnedmin
Int ftaħt o Marija l-għejun ta’ kull ħniena
Fuq l-aħwa ħosbiena, fuq l-aħwa ħatjin. Rit:

Għalhekk ja sultana tal-ħlewwa Marija
Int biss tama tagħna, int qawwa tar-ruħ
Bil-grazzja mimlija kull waqt insellmulek
Bil-ħrara ngħajtulek fis-siegħa tad-dmugħ Rit:

Fis-Santwarju tal-Madonna

Hawn quddiemek, Madonna mixħut
Għax inħossni hekk mifni u batut
Jiena ġrejt u staqsejt fejn insib ftit mistrieħ
U bagħtuni f’riġlejk minnufih.

U qaluli, Madonna li ssebbaħ il-ġonna
U għaliex inti Ommna taħt ħarstek  iżżommna
U aħna minn qalbna, Madonna nfaħħruk.
U qaluli, Madonna li ssebbaħ il-ġonna
U għaliex inti Ommna taħt ħarstek  iżżommna
U aħna, Madonna, bħal ommna  nżommuk.

Barra l-ġemgħa titniehed mar-riħ,
Fejn tiġġerra fid-dlam u fil-ksieħ,
Għalhekk ġejt, għax staqsejt fejn insib ftit  tal-kenn,
U qaluli li inti taf tħenn.

U qaluli, Madonna …

Ave Maria ta’ Fatima

1. Ħdejn Fatima dehret I-Omm tagħna Marija,
Liċ-ċkejkna tliet rgħajja, tfal safja w għaqlija.
Rit/ Ave, Ave, Ave Marija x2

2. “Sinjura żagħżugħa imdawra bid-dija,
Bil-ġmiel u bil-ħlewwa tas-sema mogħnija.
Rit/ Ave, Ave, Ave Marija x2

3. Ilbiesha bajdani, jgħattilha riġlejha,
Kuruna sabiħa, imdendla f’idejha.
Rit/ Ave, Ave, Ave Marija x2

4. “Min fejn inti ġejja?”, staqsietek Luċiia:
“Is-Sema pajjiżi”, weġibt, o Marija.
Rit/ Ave, Ave, Ave Marija x2

Download 1st stanza
Download 2nd stanza
Download 3rd stanza
Download 4th stanza

Tislima lil Ommna Marija

Lilek insellmu Marija
Bħalma l-anġlu sellimlek mill-qalb.
Inti bil-grazzja mimlija
Omm Alla u tagħna l-bnedmin.

Tħares mill-għoli tas-sema
Sabiex tieħu ħsieb lilna ċ-ċkejknin.
Ġewwa dirgħajk trid iżżommna
Bħalma żammejt lill-Bambin.

Tislima lil Ommnna Marija
Minn qalbna nagħtuk iċ-ċkejknin
Lilek nagħtu l-qalb safja
Sabiex inti toffrieha lill-Bambin (x2)

Madwarek il-kwiekeb tas-sema
Wiċċek xemx jagħti dawl lill-bniedem
Juri t-triq lill-mitlufa
Twassalhom fi ħdan il-Bambin.

Ġmielek jgħaxxaq is-sema
Isellmulek is-sema u l-art
L-anġli madwarek ferħana
Magħhom ngħannulek bil-qalb. R/.

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