(This was sent to me)

Dear Parents and Teachers,

Below are a few excerpts from Pius XI and Pius XII on the importance of bringing children frequently and even daily to say some prayers and present some flowers to Our Lady during the month of May and on the importance of the daily family rosary.

In Jesus and Mary,

Fr. Gabriel M.

Pius XI, Ingravescentibus Malis, September 29, 1937: “The fathers and mothers of families particularly must give an example to their children, especially when, at sunset, they gather together after the day’s work, within the domestic walls, and recite the holy Rosary on bended knees before the image of the Virgin, together fusing voice, faith, and sentiment. This is a beautiful and salutary custom, from which certainly there cannot but be derived tranquility and abundance of heavenly gifts for the household. When very frequently We receie newly married couples in audience and address paternal words to them, We give them rosaries, We recommend these to them earnestly, and We exhort them, citing Our own example, not to let even one day pass without saying the Rosary, no matter how burdened they may be with many cares and labors.”

 

Pius XII, Ingruentium Malorum, September 15, 1951: “But it is above all in the bosom of the family that We desire the custom of the holy Rosary to be everywhere adopted, religiously preserved, and ever more intensely practiced. In vain is a remedy sought for the wavering fate of civil life, if the family, the principles and foundation of the human community, is not fashioned after the pattern of the Gospel...

“What a sweet sight—most pleasing to God—when, at eventide, the Christian home resounds with the frequent repetition of praises in honor of the august Queen of heaven!

“Then the Rosary, recited in common, assembles before the image of the Virgin, in an admirable union of hearts, the parents and their children, who come back from their daily work...

“Then the home of the Christian family, like that of Nazareth, will become an earthly abode of sanctity, and, so to speak, a sacred temple...

“...seeing their parents kneeling before the majesty of God, they will learn from their very early years how great before the throne of God is the value of prayers said in common.”

 

Pius XII, Quandoquidem in Gubernanda, April 20, 1939: “May fathers and mothers, with pious custom, accompany their children, even to the littlest ones, every day to their shrines of the blessed Virgin, presenting them to her along with flowers from their gardens and fields and together with their prayers and those of their children. And how could our heavenly Mother fail to heed so many suppliant voices, imploring peace for citizens, for peoples, for nations? How could she fail to heed them if with the prayers of the angels of heaven there should be added those of children whom one may call angels of this earth?...everywhere, in cities, in towns, and even in the most remote villages illuminated by the light of the Gospel, children will come to the churches during the coming month of May to offer up their supplications...”

 

Pius XII, Superiore Anno, April 15, 1940: “Now it is Our particular wish, Beloved Son, that in this coming month of May the white legions of innocent children will flock again to the shrines of our Lady and that, through her intercession and her mediation for peace, there may be obtained from God the eagerly desired peace for all nations. Daily, let them assemble before the shrine of our heavenly Mother. With bended knees and suppliant hands, let the little ones together with their prayers offer their flowers—these dear children who themselves are the flowers in the mystical garden of the Church Great is our trust in the prayers of them whose angels in heaven always see the face of my Father (Mt. 18:10), whose childish faces radiate innocence, whose glistening eyes seem to reflect the splendor of heaven...We know that the prayers of the innocent pierce the heavens, assuage divine justice, and obtain heavenly  graces for themselves and for others.”



Pius XII, Quamvis Plane, April 20, 1941: “If in calling to mind our sinfulness we feel ourselves to be unworthy of her maternal affection, let us lead our children in ever increasing numbers to her sacred shrines, especially during the coming month of May, that they may plead our cause—those little ones with innocent souls and lips unstained, who in their limpid eyes seem to mirror and reflect something of the splendor of heaven.”

 

Pius XII, Dum Saeculum, April 15, 1942: “And because we can hope for all things through Mary, We urge everyone to have recourse to her, especially during this coming month of May which is dedicated to her. First of all, let the little boys and girls, guided by their parents, hasten to Mary’s shrines with their supplications, for their innocent and trusting prayers cannot fail to be most acceptable to the most merciful Mother of God who is also our mother.”