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Index of photo pages at bottom
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12 Flowers of Our Lady of the Mary Garden |
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Christian flower symbolism, with origins in the Wisdom and
Prophetic books of the Bible, was applied to Mary by the Church Fathers, as an
extension of Isaiah's prophecy of the Virgin Mother of the Messiah as the
Blossoming Rod of Jesse - celebrated today in the Christmas Carol, "Lo, How a
Rose 'ere Blooming."
In time, the Flowers of Our Lady came to symbolize many
envisaged aspects of Mary's life, virtues and mysteries, and as such served to
quicken devout persons beholding them in nature and garden to Marian meditation and prayer.
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The following are twelve meditations in the spirit of
Father Gemminger. |
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Impatiens has been named
Mother Love from the constancy of its blooms during the entire period from
spring to frost - bringing to mind the constancy of Mary's love for her Divine
Son and Lord, and for us, her spiritual children. We turn to Mary, our
Mother, in prayer, knowing she is constantly present in heaven as our Advocate
and Intercessor, yet also at our side mediating the graces she obtains for us.
From the sense of Mary's presence and graces received in contemplating its sacra
mentally blessed Flowers of Our Lady Lady in her Garden". |
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As the shapes of snapdragon
blooms bring to mind little shoes, we envisage in our imagination the little
feet and shoes of Jesus, and Mary's loving motherly sharing and bonding with him
as she cared for him in their Nazareth home. In imitation of Mary, may we ever
nurture and protect the innocence and purity of our own children as we instruct
them in the truths and virtues of the Faith. |
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As we look at the tiny pins in the flower heads of
sweet scabious, we think of Our
Lady's wonder and joy as she sewed garments for the Divine Redeemer she was to
bear. In emulation of Mary, we offer all our work and thoughts to God, and, in
particular, our sewing for home and for our church altar. |
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The
tiny cross-shaped flowers of sweet alyssum
bring to mind Christ's Cross,
quickening us to recollection that all our pains and sorrows were borne there by
him, and that by our own bearing of them in union with him we extend the mystery
and efficacy of his Redemption - "making up what is wanting in the sufferings of
Christ."
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Consider the
red
poppy,
one of the flowers said by old legend to have sprung up at the foot of the cross
from Jesus' redemptive blood drops. These Passion symbols quicken meditation on
Christ's Redemption of us, of the world of nature, and of the earthly Kingdom,
so that the divine goodness, beauty, truth and glory of Creation may be shown
forth, shared and magnified in the New Heaven and the New Earth for all
eternity. |
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We
raise our thoughts from the
blue
of
the
morning glory, "Our Lady's Mantle" to the spiritual mantle with which
Mary, Mother of the all-powerful God, and our heavenly mother also, mercifully
protects those who turn to her for help. We beseech her protection from all
dangers. |
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When the tear-like buds of larkspur appear, we unite
our thoughts with those of Mary as she wept at the foot of the Cross, sharing
interiorly the bitter Passion of her crucified Divine Son and Lord. May we
become ever more closely united with the sacrifice of Christ through loving
emulation of Mary's immolative motherly sorrows - as we are quickened to
meditation and prayer by these flowers said by legend to have sprung up where
her tears fell beside the Cross. |
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As we observe the first florets of
cornflower
blooming in a crown-like ring around the edges of each flower head, we raise our
thoughts to Mary's coronation as Queen of Heaven and Earth. We pray to her for
the mediation of the graces needed by us ever to guide our actions towards the
redemptive building of God's Peaceable Kingdom of truth, justice,
love, freedom and material sufficiency for all – in preparation for the
transformation of all in the New Heaven and New Earth on the last day. |
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As we come upon the eye-like flowers of forget-me-nots,
with their golden centers, we are quickened to reassurance that the eyes of
Mary, our Spiritual Mother in heaven, are always turned upon us and our needs.
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We see how beautifully the
golden masses of
marigolds suggest Our Lady's splendor after her
glorious assumption into heaven, and her "coming forth as the morning rising . .
. bright as the sun" from the interior of the Trinity, as the "Woman clothed
with the sun" and "Queen in gilded clothing"; and in her subsequent merciful
appearances on earth. We ask her to pray that we may obtain the promise of
heaven. |
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The blooms of
petunias were named Our Lady's Praises from their perceived resemblance
to the subtle flowers seen by those gifted with spiritual vision to rise from
the lips of devotees proclaiming Our Lady's praises -as spiritual roses were
perceived to rise from the lips of those praying the Aves and Paters of the
Rosary (the origin of the name, "Rosary"). Or, alternatively, they may be seen
as praises rising from the lips of Mary, as her soul "magnifies the Lord." May
our prayers, too, rise to Our Lady and to God as pure spiritual bouquets of
love. |
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The
zinnia
is one of a number of flowers whose forms and settings in nature suggested to
persons coming upon them the presence of the radiant heavenly human form of the
Virgin, for whom the flowers were then named. Other such flowers are
"Mary", "Our Lady of the Meadow", "Our Lady in the Corn", "Our Lady by the
Gate".
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As we reflect on the
yellow zinnia as it first blooms, with a single haloed
glorious flower above its foliage "body," we rejoice that Mary, Mediatrix of all
Graces, is always present with us by her action wherever graces are distributed.
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Meager Beginnings
Phase 2- Planting & Rocks
Fr. Francis Gets into the Act
Success- Feast Day Blessing
2005
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