The Easter season is represented by the liturgical color white — the color of light, a symbol of joy, purity and innocence (absolute or restored). The season ends on Pentecost, June 8th, so the whole month of May is in the Easter season.
The month of May is dedicated to The Blessed Virgin Mary.
Focus of the Liturgy
The Gospel readings for May are taken from St. Luke and St. John. All are from Cycle C, Weekdays Year 2.
| May 4 Third Sunday of Easter |
Cycle C, John 21:1-19: Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. |
| May 11 Fourth Sunday of Easter |
Cycle C: John 10:27-30: I give my sheep eternal life. |
| May 18 Fifth Sunday of Easter |
Cycle C, John 13:31-33a, 34-35: I give you a new commandment: love one another. |
| May 25 Sixth Sunday of Easter |
Cycle C, John 14:23-29: The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. |
Highlights of the Month
As Spring blossoms forth and we are surrounded by new life, we spend this month full of the joy of our Easter celebration and in anticipation of the coming of the Holy Spirit, our Consoler and Advocate on Pentecost (June 8).
The saints that we will focus on this month—those who have already shared in the rewards of the Resurrection—are:
St. Joseph the Worker (May 1),
St. Athanasius (May 2),
Sts. Philip and James (May 3),
St. Damien de Vuester (May 10),
John of Avila(May 10),
St. Nereus & Achilleus, St. Pancras (May 12),
Our Lady of Fatima (May 13),
St. Matthias (May 14)
St. Isidore the Farmer (May 15),
St. Bernadine of Siena (May 20),
St. Christopher Magallanes(May 21),
St. Rita of Cascia (May 22),
St. Philip Neri (May 26),
St. Augustine of Canterbury (May 27)
and the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (May 31).
The feasts of
St. John I (May 18),
and St. Bede, St. Gregory VII and St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi (May 25),
are superseded by the Sunday liturgy. The Solemnity of the Ascension (May 29) is celebrated on June 1 (Sunday) in most dioceses in the United States.
