Flores de Mayo: An Avenue of Missionary Discipleship

Flores de Mayo, a beloved Filipino tradition, is a month-long devotion honoring the Virgin Mary, with emphasis placed on her as the Queen of the month of May. But what makes this tradition especially meaningful is the way it brings together the local community to actively participate in prayer, service, and evangelization, making it a living testament of faith in action. It is also a powerful example of how culture can serve as a vehicle for living out the call to be missionary disciples in the Church. The act of offering flowers becomes an expression of the individual’s desire to grow in holiness and to honor Mary as the first disciple, the woman who said “yes” to God’s call and led the way for all believers.

Flores de Mayo is not just about individual devotion but it is a collective, community-centered event that naturally lends itself to the work of missionary discipleship. Pope Francis defines missionary discipleship as the call for every baptized person to be an active witness of Christ’s love in the world. In this sense, the celebration of Flores de Mayo becomes more than just a local or national practice; it becomes an opportunity to live out the Great Commission in everyday life.

In many areas, Flores de Mayo is not limited to church activities alone. There are community-wide events such as food drives, outreach to the elderly, etc. These acts of service reflect the missionary discipleship that the Church calls for, as the tradition compels the faithful to go beyond their personal devotion to include others in the works of charity and mission. The flowers may be offered to Mary, but the service extends to the community, reflecting the deep connection between devotion and action.

Ate Malou, Ate Jessica and Nanay Terry, catechists from St. Mary of the Perpetual Rosary Parish Buhangin shared their experiences during these year’s FDM. “Dako kaayo akung role sa pag-agak sa mga kabataan ilabina sa espirituhanong kinabuhi. Ang pagpaila sa kinabuhi ni Birhen Maria diha satong kaluwasan ilabina usab sa iyang mga hiyas ug ang Pag rosary nga mao ang summary sa kinabuhi ni Kristo” Ate Malou shared. Ate Jessica shared how she felt the weight of the responsibility as a catechist especially that it is her mission as a PSP to evangelize and to guide the children on the different teachings on the Church thus she invokes the guidance of the Holy Spirit as she continues teaching. Nanay Terry also shared that: “Isip katekista nakatabang ako sa pagtudlo sa pag ampo sa mga bata. Ako ang ikaduhang inahan sa mga bata Kon naa sila sa kapilya.maka experience ako sa pgdala sa mga bata labi na nga ngkalahi lahi nga mga kinaiya sa mga bata.kinahanglan gayud ang pagpasensya ug pagpaubos.”

Children, in particular, play an important role in this tradition. By involving children in the practices of service, prayer, and devotion, Flores de Mayo becomes an opportunity for faith formation and a chance to pass the mantle of discipleship onto the younger members of the Church.

Ate Daniela and Ate Micha, few of the many children from the same parish also shared their experience. For Ate Daniela, she shared how she experienced unity especially as they helped in assisting the younger participants as they line up during the flower offering and the praying of the Holy Rosary. For Ate Micha, she gained more knowledge about the Catholic Church and she gained new friends. Both of these children shared that in a simple way, by attending the Flores de Mayo, they felt a sense of appreciation towards the beauty of the Catholic faith and the devotion to the Blessed Mother. Hence, they too were inspired to share their learnings to the other, to their friends and families as well.

As we celebrate Flores de Mayo this year, let us remember that this tradition is not only an act of reverence for the Blessed Virgin but a living, dynamic expression of our call to be missionary disciples in the world. Through prayer, service, and communal devotion, we are called to embody the message of Christ in ways that transcend the walls of the Church, reaching out to others in acts of kindness, compassion, and charity. (Allyza Hope Tabigue)