Month of special devotion to the Blessed Virgin. May devotion, in its present form, does not antedate the 18th century. lt is said to have been originated by Father Latomia of the Roman College of the Society of Jesus. To counteract infidelity and immorality among the students, he made a vow to devote the month of May to Mary. The Jesuit Fathers have been particularly zealous in spreading this devotion. Pope Pius VII granted an indulgence of 300 days each day for observance of the devotion either in public or in private, and a plenary indulgence on any day of the month, including the first eight days of June, the usual conditions to be observed.