As is the custom at Ss Peter & Paul and St Philomena, Our Lady is crowned on the nearest Sunday to the 13th May (First Fatima Apparition, 13th May 1917).
The origins of the May Crowning are hard to pinpoint, although devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary originates in the earliest days of the church. Concerning the significance of the month of May, toward the end of the 18th century, Father Latomia of the Roman College of the Society of Jesus (in Rome) instituted the practice of dedicating this month to our Blessed Mother. His desire was to promote devotion to Mary among the students as a way to counteract infidelity and immorality. From Rome, the May devotion spread throughout the Jesuit colleges, and eventually throughout the whole church. Pope Pius VII in 1815 granted a partial indulgence for participating in either a public or private devotion honoring Mary during the month of May; Pope Pius IX made the indulgence plenary in 1859.
Immediately after the Mass and procession, the sun shone brightly through the high windows of the Dome and the bright rays fell upon the statue of the Blessed Virgin ……
