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May is when the Church turns her attention in a special way to Mary, Mother of God, a season marked by prayer, trust, and the quiet hope that comes from encountering Christ “in her.”
And as Mother’s Day arrives in the same month of tender Marian devotion, it gives us a providential opportunity. It is a time to honor mothers with gratitude, and also a moment to look to Mary, our Mother and Queen, as the perfect model of how motherhood is meant to lead hearts back to Jesus.
May: The month of homage, prayer, and mercy
In his 1965 encyclical Mense Maio Saint Pope Paul VI described May devotion as a spiritual rhythm the Church has long kept: “the piety of the faithful has long dedicated [May] to Mary, the Mother of God.”
He adds that in May Christians offer “more fervent and loving acts of homage and veneration,” and that in this time “a greater abundance of God’s merciful gifts comes down to us from our Mother’s throne.”
There is also a practical point. May is not only about tradition or feelings. Paul VI says that “Mary is rightly to be regarded as the way by which we are led to Christ,” so “the person who encounters Mary cannot help but encounter Christ likewise.”
So when we honor Mary in May, we are not detouring away from Jesus. We are being drawn closer to Him.
“Her crowning”: Mary as Queen, and as a Mother
Mary’s queenship is not a picture of distance. The Church’s language keeps returning to the same truth: Mary’s royal dignity is tied to her maternal love.
Pope Pius XII, in his encyclical Ad Caeli Reginam, explicitly links Marian devotion to the crowning of Mary’s image. He recalls how a miraculous image “was being crowned with a golden diadem,” which he described as the heralding of the “sovereignty” of Mary.
He also emphasizes that Christians’ hope rests on this: “Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, reigns with a mother’s solicitude over the entire world, just as she is crowned in heavenly blessedness with the glory of a Queen.”
That means Mary’s “crowning” should change how we look at the holiday we call Mother’s Day. It is not merely a sentimental celebration of motherhood. It is an invitation to recognize motherhood as a gift that reflects God’s own love.
As St. Thérèse of Lisieux wrote with simple confidence:
“What a joy to remember that she [Mary] is our Mother! Since she loves us and knows our weakness, what have we to fear?”
And she adds:
“Do not be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her enough. And Jesus will be very happy, because the Blessed Virgin is His Mother.”
Mother’s Day at its best: gratitude that turns into prayer
Mother’s Day can sometimes become routine. Flowers, brunch, a “thank you,” and the day is over.
But in May, the Church trains our eyes to see more. In Pope Francis’ catechesis, he returns again and again to the way mothers witness tenderness and dedication. He notes that “mothers are always, even in the worst moments, witnesses of tenderness, dedication and moral strength,” and that they often pass on “the deepest sense of religious practice.”
Even when mothers are exhausted, even when they fail, even when the world feels heavy, motherhood can become, in mysterious ways, an everyday channel through which faith is planted.
Pope Francis makes the stakes clear with hope: “A society without mothers would be a dehumanized society,” because “without mothers… the faith would lose a good part of its simple and profound warmth.”
This is why May and Mother’s Day belong together. May devotion to Mary strengthens what Mother’s Day is meant to honor: love that gives itself, love that protects, and love that keeps calling people back to God.
Stella Maris Threads: Mary as the Star of the Sea
Catholic tradition often gives Mary titles that help us picture her role in a way that keeps Christ at the center. One beautiful example is the Star of the Sea.
Thomas Aquinas connects Mary’s name with this “star” imagery and explains that sailors are guided into port by the shining of a star, so Christians are guided by Mary toward heaven.
So if May is the month we draw close to Mary, then Mother’s Day is the moment we remember what that guiding looks like in everyday life. A mother points toward safety and purpose through patient instruction, personal sacrifice, and steady love.
Stella Maris Threads is named for that same spirit. Stella Maris Threads reimagines the classic t-shirt dress as an elevated essential, crafted from premium 100% cotton and cut on the bias for a fluid, flattering drape. It is designed to move with ease across a range of body types and made in small, intentional batches in the USA. Their approach fits naturally with the Marian theme of May: gifts and gestures that are meant to be lived, worn, and returned to again and again.
In other words, Mother’s Day is about honor with dignity. And May devotion reminds us that true honor always leads us back to Christ.
A gift with purpose: honoring motherhood with dignity
When you choose a Mother’s Day gift in May, you can do it in a way that is both practical and spiritually aligned.
Here are three simple principles:
- Choose something she can wear and enjoy, not only something that looks good in a box.
- Treat comfort and modesty as forms of respect for her life and work.
- Select with intention, because love shows up in the way you think about the person.
Stella Maris Threads’ elevated signature T-shirt dress matches this kind of love. The “relaxed yet refined silhouette” and premium luxury cotton are meant for real daily living. It is a versatile foundation for laid-back days and styled evenings, the kind of clothing that feels as effortless as it looks.
And because May is Marian, you can even frame the purchase as a small act of gratitude, offered with the same trust St. Thérèse expressed. Mary loves, Mary knows our weakness, and the Mother who guides us does not abandon those entrusted to her.
How to turn May devotion into a Mother’s Day moment (simple plan)
If you want something concrete, try this short plan.
- Offer one short Marian prayer in the morning, especially during May. Ask Mary for the grace to honor the mother figures in your life with truth, patience, and gratitude.
- Give a gift with a story. Tell her why you chose it. Name the qualities you admire. Her strength, her tenderness, and the way she keeps pointing the family toward what matters.
- Return the day to Christ. End with a brief prayer asking that gratitude becomes deeper love of Jesus, the One Mary leads us to.
Thanks again to today’s article sponsor! Visit Stella Maris Threads to find the perfect (mother’s day, birthday, or simply a just-thinking-of-you) gift for the Catholic women in your life.
P.S. Here’s a link to a beautiful prayer to help guide and protect you on your travels. Mary, Star of the Sea, pray for us!
