On May 2, 1806, at the ringing of the six o’clock evening Angelus bells, Catherine Labouré was born to Pierre and Madeleine. “The bell of the little church across the lane had not ceased striking when the baby breathed her first breath and wailed,” Vincentian Father Joseph Dirvin, C.M., wrote later of the birth.
As the life of the future saint unfolded, the divine timing of her birth hinted at what was to come. May is the month of Our Lady. The Angelus is the Church’s beautiful meditation recounting the holy Virgin’s assent to be the Mother of God.
Saint Catherine loved and relied upon Mary as her very own mother, giving her own unreserved YES to the divine will for her life.
Today, as the month of May draws near, I invite you and your family to express to Our Blessed Mother the same love and devotion Catherine showed. Join fellow AMM members and friends visiting the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal for the Association’s annual May Procession. This year’s outdoor celebration will take place on Sunday, May 7, beginning at 1:00 p.m., CT, here at Saint Mary’s of the Barrens (the Shrine Church) in Perryville, Missouri.
Processing along the quarter-mile long Rosary Walk, hundreds of faith-filled individuals and families will recite the Rosary and sing hymns. At the Vincentians’ century-old grotto, we will present Mary with a wreath created from thousands of red silk rose petals, each one representing the prayers and petitions of members like you offering your YES to God through Mary, or a plea for heaven’s help with some earthly hardship.
Last year, thousands of AMM members returned their rose petal and petitions. The rose petals were used to help create a heart-shaped wreath which was presented to Our Blessed Mother at the grotto, and was then displayed inside the Votive Light Sanctuary at the Shrine after the May Procession. Following our May Procession this year, the wreath will also be placed near Our Lady’s Shrine Altar.
We hope you can be part of the May Procession in person. If not, please join us in prayer, in spirit, and/or by watching our livestream coverage on the AMM Facebook page.
Most importantly, please return your special intentions. We will humbly ask the Queen of the May to present your prayers of praise and petition to her son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Your needs will also be remembered throughout the month of May.
If you are able to enclose an offering, AMM deeply appreciates your generous support. Gifts allow AMM to continue its ministry to draw the world closer to Jesus through devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Burning a Votive Light can be another symbol of your prayerful presence at the National Shrine during the May procession, and beyond.
Our collective prayers can be a sign of hope for others.
Please join us in asking Our Lady to intercede for peace in our world, an
increase in religious vocations, healing for loved ones, a return to faith
for those fallen away, and for all our needs.
Thank you once more for your caring support of the Association of the Miraculous Medal. We look forward to receiving your special intentions. And we hope to see you at the National Shrine on Sunday, May 7!
Sincerely in Jesus and Mary,
Fr. Kevin McCracken, C.M.
Spiritual Director