Ross Belle Santos-Balatbat
When I was seven, my mother taught me how to pray the rosary and I was motivated as I witnessed her and my aunt praying at least seven sets in a day. As a young child, I thought that devotion to Mary was limited to women.
In the month of May, I went to pick flowers every afternoon, went to the chapel, joined in reciting a rosary and offered flowers to Mary. My devotion to Mother Mary and understanding of her virtues grew.
It was during the 11th century that the idea of doing the 30-Day Devotion to Mary in the month of May began in Italy. In Macau, the Legion of Mary has observed this practice at Saint Augustine for more than a decade.
A rosary is recited before the daily Mass. Saint Pope Pius X had said, “If there were one million families praying the Rosary every day, the entire world would be saved.”
Then, during the 9:30 AM Sunday Masses in May, children are encouraged to offer flowers to our Mother Mary during the offertory. Most often, families go together as parents guide their little kids to the image of Our Lady and look forward to being blessed by the priest.
Mary deserves honor, not only during the month of May, but at every moment. It is not only a call to pray. It is also a call to penance. (Photo by Ross Belle Santos-Balatbat)
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