Cosgriff students honor Mary with May Crowning

Intermountain Catholic

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The second grade students at J. E. Cosgriff Memorial School lay flowers before a statue of Mary. The May crowning is symbolic of the honor Catholics give Mary as the one chosen by God to bear his Son for our salvation. IC photo by Chris Young

SALT LAKE CITY — May is Mary’s month, culminating with the feast of the Visitation when the Mother of God proclaimed her Magnificat. The May crowning is symbolic of the honor we give Mary as the one chosen by God to bear his Son for our salvation.

J. E. Cosgriff Memorial School second grade students processed to the altar at St. Ambrose Church carrying flowers as eighth grade students lined the isles holding candles to celebrate the Crowning of Mary May 25.

The second grade students were dressed in their First Communion attire, which has become a tradition for second graders. The Order of Crowning an Image of the Blessed Virgin Mary was approved by Pope John Paul II in 1981.

"The crowning, Mass, and the music we have today provided by the Cosgriff children’s choir, are all such beautiful gestures," said Father Gally Lourduraj, associate pastor of St. Ambrose Parish. "The most special thing about today is the time we are spending thinking about and showing our love and appreciation for Mary, who is Our Blessed Mother as well.

"In the gospel (Luke 1:41-42), we heard a beautiful prayer, the Hail Mary, when Mary went to visit with her cousin Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth said blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Mary loved Elizabeth, and Mary loves us all."

Fr. Gally said the truth is sometimes we say and do things we do not mean to do even though we try hard all the time to be good to one another.

"We need to pray like Mary prayed, and ask God to bless us, and to give us the strength to be good," said Fr. Gally. "Prayer is the love of God pouring down on us. All we have to do is pray to ask God to help us, and like Mary, say ‘yes’ to God, and he will fill us with his love. Mary asks us to love her son, and she asks us to do what Jesus tells us to do."