Childhood Memories of the month of May

This pink rose bush doesn't have a name that I know of. I got a start of it from my Dad years ago. My Mom and Dad had one growing on the fence outside my bedroom window. It's not very fragrant, but the birds love to hide in it. This rose also reminds me of the May Processions we had in grade school. Being raised Catholic I looked forward to the month of May for the May processions. We crowned a statue of Mary with roses and sang some traditional songs. One of the songs is "Bring Flowers to the Fairest". I don't remember how the song starts but I do remember the chorus.


Bring Flowers of the Fairest

A shortened version:
Bring flowers of the rarest,Bring blossoms the fairest,From garden and woodland and hillside and dale;Our full hearts are swelling,Our glad voices tellingThe praise of the loveliest flower of the vale.
O Mary, we crown thee with blossoms today,Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May,O Mary, we crown thee with blossoms today,Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May,
Their lady they name thee,Their mistress proclaim thee,Oh, grant that thy children on earth be as trueAs long as the bowersAre radiant with flowersAs long as the azure shall keep its bright hue.
O Mary, we crown thee with blossoms today,Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May,O Mary, we crown thee with blossoms today,Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May,
Sing gaily in chorus,The bright angels o'er usRe-echo the strains we begin upon earth;Their harps are repeatingThe notes of our greeting,For Mary herself is the cause of our mirth.


Another song we sang was "Hail Holy Queen Enthroned Above". I liked this one too. I also like the version sung in "Sister Act II". Check it out. NOTE: There are some of you out there that will get a kick out of watching the film clip = and when you do I want you to envision Sister Mary Adonza singing in this choir. ha

Ciao!