A May Crowning is a traditional devotion in which an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary is crowned, sometimes with a wreath of flowers. It may be done within the context of a Mass or in a paraliturgy outside the Mass in which there might be Scripture readings, a homily, singing of hymns, devotional prayers such as the rosary, a procession, etc. This act of filial devotion is done in the springtime, during the month of May to recognize Mary as Queen of Heaven, Queen of Earth and Queen of Peace.
The Easter time hymn Regina Caeli (O Queen of Heaven) invokes the Blessed Mother to rejoice in the resurrection of her Son. Throughout the Easter season this hymn is sung morning, noon and night in place of the Angelus, and is also the final hymn of the day, sung at the conclusion to the Liturgy of the Hours' night prayer. Honoring the Mother of God during Easter is the foundation of our devotion to Mary during May. With the flowers of spring we crown Mary the Queen of Heaven.
Statues and other iconographic images can be "windows into heaven". The crowning of sacred images with herbs and flowers is an ancient tradition. The crowns call to mind the victory wreaths that await the baptized in the fullness of time. All God's children are called to accept their responsibilities as the royal heirs to the throne of heaven.
The 1987 publication of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, "Celebrating the Marian Year," and the "Ceremonial of Bishops" (part IV, 18) include the order for crowning an image of the Blessed Virgin. (cf Seasonal Missalette, April 13, 1998; vol 14, no 5: 94)
Coronation is one form of reverence frequently shown to images of the Blessed Virgin Mary... It is especially from the end of the 16th century that in the West the practice became widespread for the faithful, both religious and laity, to crown images of the Blessed Virgin. The popes not only endorsed this devout custom, but "on many occasions, either personally or through bishop-delegates, carried out the coronation of Marian images." (cf Pius XII, "Ad Caeli Reginam")
The U.S. bishops state: The queen symbol was attributed to Mary because she was a perfect follower of Christ, who is the absolute "crown" of creation. She is the Mother of the Son of God, who is the messianic King. Mary is the Mother of Christ, the Word Incarnate... "he will be great and will be called 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" (Lk 1:32-33). Elizabeth greeted the Blessed Virgin, pregnant with Jesus, as "the mother of my Lord" (Lk 1:41-43). Mary is the perfect follower of Christ. 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 an eminent way she won the "crown of righteousness" (2 Tim 4:8), the "crown of life" (Jas 1:12; Rev 2:10), the "crown of glory" (1 Pet 5:4) that is promised to those who follow Christ. ("Order of Crowning," NCCB, 1987)
