May 17, 2012
In preparation for Pentecost we begin our Novena to the Holy Spirit today.
Novena to the Holy Spirit: Day 1
OPENING PRAYER
Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love. Send forth Your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
The following two prayers are said at the end of each day's novena prayer:
ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
Before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring righteousness of Your justice, and the unconditional nature of Your love. You are the strength and light of my soul. In You I live and move and have my being. I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness, and I pray with all my heart for help in avoiding even the smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light, listen to Your voice, and follow Your inspirations. I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You by Your compassion to watch over me in my weakness. I implore You, Adorable Spirit, helper of my infirmity, to keep me always in Your grace. Give me grace O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son, to say to You always and everywhere, "Speak Lord for Your servant is listening." Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
O Lord Jesus Christ, before ascending into heaven You promised to send us the Holy Spirit to finish Your work upon the Earth. Grant the same Holy Spirit to me so that my soul may be sanctified and grow in the works of Your grace and Your love.
Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom, that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal;
the Spirit of Understanding, to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth;
the Spirit of Counsel, that I may always choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven;
the Spirit of Fortitude, that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation;
the Spirit of Knowledge, that I may know God and know myself and grow in holiness;
the Spirit of Piety, that I may find the service of God sweet and enjoyable,
and the Spirit of Fear of the Lord, that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread displeasing Him in any way.
Help me, dear Lord, to be one of Your true disciples, and animate me in all things with Your Spirit. Amen.
NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT: DAY 1
TODAY'S PRAYER: Pray for all the gifts
Almighty and eternal God, You have restored me into your image and likeness by the water of baptism and the Holy Spirit, and You gave me the forgiveness of all sin. Send forth from heaven upon me your sevenfold Spirit: Fill me with the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and the Spirit of Holy Fear. Help me to come alive in all these gifts, that I may be purified, turn away from all evil, and serve Your kingdom well. Amen.
One "Our Father" and "Hail Mary"; Seven "Glory be to..."
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts
NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT: DAY 2
OPENING PRAYER:
Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love. Lord, send out Your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
TODAY'S PRAYER: The Gift of Holy Fear
Come and fill me, O blessed Spirit of Holy Fear. Penetrate my inmost heart so that I may honor, obey and prefer You and my Lord Jesus and my Father God above all else. Help me to despise all things that offend You, and make me worthy to appear before the pure eyes of Your Divine Majesty in heaven, where You live and reign forever in the unity of the ever Blessed Trinity. Amen.
One "Our Father" and "Hail Mary"; Seven "Glory be to..."
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts
NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT: DAY 3
Opening Prayer:
Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love. Lord, send out Your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
TODAY'S PRAYER: The Gift of Piety
Come and fill me, O Blessed Spirit of Piety. Possess my heart. Purify me. Humble me. Enkindle in me such a love for God that I may be satisfied only in His service and lovingly submit to all legitimate authority for the sake of Your kingdom. Make me increasingly uncomfortable with everything that is evil, so that I turn away from it and live only in You. Amen.
One "Our Father" and "Hail Mary"; Seven "Glory be to..."
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts
NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT: DAY 4
OPENING PRAYER:
Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love. Lord, send out Your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
TODAY'S PRAYER: The Gift of Fortitude
Come and fill me, O Blessed Spirit of Fortitude. Protect my soul in times of trouble and adversity. Sustain my efforts in holiness, strengthen me in my weakness, and give me courage against all the assaults and temptations of my enemies, that I may not be overcome and separated from You, my God and greatest Good. Amen.
One "Our Father" and "Hail Mary"; Seven "Glory be to..."
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts
NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT: DAY 5
OPENING PRAYER:
Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love. Lord, send out Your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
TODAY'S PRAYER: The Gift of Knowledge
Come and fill me, O Blessed Spirit of Knowledge, and grant that I may perceive the will of the Father in all things, in every moment of every day. Give me an awareness of the pointlessness of earthly things and the ugliness of unholy desires, that I may stay pure in all my decisions and use the things of this world only if they bring You glory. Tell me what I need to know for my salvation and for the service of others. Amen.
One "Our Father" and "Hail Mary"; Seven "Glory be to..."
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts
NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT: DAY 6
OPENING PRAYER:
Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love. Lord, send out Your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
TODAY'S PRAYER: The Gift of Understanding
Come and fill me, O Spirit of Understanding, and enlighten my mind, that I may accept and believe the mysteries of salvation and the truths of Your kingdom in order to stay on the path to heaven and serve Your kingdom in my daily life. Help me to discern what is evil, and enlighten me so that I may be holy here on earth and live forever in the light of Your glory with a clear vision of You and the Father and the Son. Amen.
One "Our Father" and "Hail Mary"; Seven "Glory be to..."
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts
NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT: DAY 7
OPENING PRAYER:
Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love. Lord, send out Your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
TODAY'S PRAYER: The Gift of Counsel
Come and fill me, O Spirit of Counsel. Help me and guide me in all my ways, that I may always do Your holy will. Incline my heart to prefer only what is good; turn it away from all that is evil, and direct me by the straight path of Your commandments to that goal of eternal life for which I long. Amen.
One "Our Father" and "Hail Mary"; Seven "Glory be to..."
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts
NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT: DAY 8
OPENING PRAYER:
Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love. Lord, send out Your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
TODAY'S PRAYER: The Gift of Wisdom
Come and fill me, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to my soul the mysteries of heavenly things, in their exceeding greatness, power and beauty. Teach me to love them above and beyond all the passing joys and satisfactions of earth and to prefer Your wisdom over the so-called wisdom of this world. Help me to grow in Your wisdom, especially during temptations, trials, and all the daily challenges that I face. Amen.
One "Our Father" and "Hail Mary"; Seven "Glory be to..."
the Act of Consecration, Prayer for Seven Gifts
NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT: DAY 9
OPENING PRAYER:
Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love. Lord, send out Your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
TODAY'S PRAYER: The Fruits of the Holy Spirit *
Come and fill me, O Divine Spirit. Fill my heart with Your heavenly fruits: Your love for others, Your joy, Your peace, Your kindness, Your generosity, Your faithfulness, Your gentleness, and Your temperance for self-control, that I may never weary in the service of God. Keep me close to You so that my life produces Your fruits in ever-increasing abundance. Help me to continually and faithfully submit to Your divine inspiration so that I will be united eternally with You in the love of the Father and the Son. Amen.
One "Our Father" and "Hail Mary"; Seven "Glory be to..."
The Act of Consecration, Prayer for Seven Gifts
FEBRUARY 25, 2012
Why is Lent Forty Days?
Posted By Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D. On February 22, 2010
In the English language, the special season before Easter is called “Lent.” The word comes from the “lengthening” of daylight hours as we progress from the darkness of winter to the new light of spring. But other languages, such as Spanish, have a name for this season that is derived from the word for forty. It is the season of the forty days.
Okay, we do penance for forty days because Jesus fasted forty days in the wilderness. But did you ever wonder why he was out there for forty days rather than seven or ten or fifty?
Think back to the Old Testament. Noah and company were in the Ark for 40 days. Moses was up on Sinai receiving the 10 commandments for 40 days. The Israelites wandered around the desert for 40 years.
So why all these forties? Probably because it is forty weeks that a woman carries her developing baby in the womb before a new birth can take place.
All these “forties” are a necessary and not-so-comfortable prelude for something new. In Noah’s case, it’s the rebirth of a sinful world that had been cleansed by raging flood waters. In Moses’ case, it was the birth of the people of the covenant. For the nomadic Israelites, it was the start of a new, settled existence in the Promised Land.
And Jesus? What did his forty days mean? The birth of a new Israel liberated from sin, reconciled to God, and governed by the law of the Spirit rather than a law chiseled in stone.
But think back to the story of Moses and the Israelites. There was someone who did not want them to go out into the desert to offer sacrifice to their God. Pharaoh did not take the loss of his cheap labor lying down. When Jesus begins his mission of liberation, there is another slave master who is no more willing than Pharaoh to let his minions go without a fight.
Since the sixties, it has been fashionable in some quarters to dismiss the devil as a relic of ancient mythology or an invention of medieval fantasy. The guy with the pointy tail and the pitchfork comes in handy in cartoons and costume parties, but how can we take such an image seriously? In the Bible, they say, let’s read “Satan” merely as a symbol of human evil.
Such a view is clearly at odds with Scripture, Tradition, and the constant teaching of the Magisterium. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, says St. Paul. If you don’t know your enemy and his tactics, you are bound to lose.
The temptation of Jesus in the desert shows us the tactics of the “Dark Lord.” Bread, a symbol for all that sustains our physical life, is a great blessing. But Satan tries to make material things the ultimate, distracting us from a deeper hunger and a more satisfying food. Political power and all leadership is intended by God for the sake of serving the common good; Satan twists things to make leaders self-seeking, oppressive tyrants like himself. The lust for power and fame ironically leads not to dominion but to slavery to the Dark Lord (remember what happened to the Nazgûl in the Lord of the Rings!). Then there’s religious temptation, the trickiest of them all: manipulating God for our own glory, using his gifts to make people look at us rather than at Him. Sounds a lot like the Pharisees.
Jesus triumphs in this first wrestling match. He shows us how to keep from being pinned. Fasting breaks undue attachments to material blessings and stimulates our spiritual appetite. Humble service breaks the stranglehold of pride. The reverent worship of authentic faith breaks the full nelson of superstition, magic, and all arrogant religion. And the word of God is shown as the sword of the Spirit, the secret weapon that slashes through the lies of the enemy.
So our forty days? Time to use the tactics modeled by our captain and break the strongholds. Prayer, fasting, humble service fueled by the heavenly bread of the Eucharist and Scripture. If we make use of them diligently during this season, pregnant with possibilities, we can enter into greater freedom. Darkness can give way to increasing light. Something new and wonderful can be born in us.
Article printed from Catholic Exchange: http://catholicexchange.com
FEBRUARY 9, 2012
There is a story of a sea captain who in his retirement skippered a boat taking day-trippers to Shetland Islands.
On one trip, the boat was full of young people. They laughed at the old captain when they saw him say a prayer before sailing out, as the day was fine and the sea was calm.
However they weren't long at sea when a storm suddenly blew up and the boat began to roll & pitch violently. The terrified passengers came to the captain and asked him to join them in prayer.
But he replied, "I say my prayers when it's calm. When it's rough I attend to my ship." Here is a lesson for us......
If we cannot seek God in quiet moments of our lives; we are not likely to find him when trouble strikes. We are more likely to panic.
But if we have learnt to seek him and trust him in quiet moments, then we most certainly will find him when the going gets rough !
JANUARY 30, 2012
On Medjugorje.com I read the following message that Our Lady gave to all of us....
Our Lady knows what is best for us. It is to our benefit to struggle, to suffer. But we determine if it becomes valuable or worthless. Do we elevate God through our suffering by witnesing joy amidst trials or do we take away from God's kingdom by carrying it in such a way that it brings others down and even away from God. Our Lady said in November 1991:
"When you are sick, when you suffer from something, don’t say, ‘Oh, why has this happened to me and not to somebody else.’ No, say instead: ‘Lord, I thank you for the gift you are giving me.’ For sufferings are really great gifts from God. They are sources of great graces for you and for others. When you are sick, many of you only pray and repeat, ‘Heal me, heal me.’ No, dear children, this is not correct because your hearts are not open; you shut your hearts through your sickness. You cannot be open to the will of God nor to the graces He wants to give you. Pray this way: ‘Lord, Thy will be done in me.’ Then only can God communicate His graces to you, according to your real needs that He knows better than you. It can be healing, new strength, new joy, new peace - only open your hearts."
A Christian, who is seeking perfection, will consider it a great benefit to the soul to suffer. With a correct attitude, reflecting Our Lady's message, sorrow and suffering will be more attractive to the Christian than pleasure to the pagan.
We must realize that all suffering will pass, however for those who embrace their suffering, using it for purification or for souls of others, it will never pass. Its mark will be forever lasting throughout eternity."
May Jesus' peace be with you always.
Joanne
JANUARY 12, 2012
Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says,
"I'll try again tomorrow."
Mary Anne Radmacher
JANUARY 8, 2012
God sustains every soul and dwells in it substantially, even though it be that of the greatest sinner in the world.
St. John of the Cross
NOVEMBER 26, 2011
"From Mary we learn to surrender to God's will in all things."
Pope John Paul II
NOVEMBER 13, 2011
"God creates out of nothing but He does what is still more wonderful:
He makes saints out of sinners."
Soren Kierkegaard
NOVEMBER 7, 2011
"If you haven't any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble."
Bob Hope
AUGUST 13, 2011
Eucharistic Adoration
By Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan
What makes this place tick?” I quizzed the exuberant pastor as he showed me around the parish, renowned for its high rate of Sunday Mass attendance; first-rate school; excellent religious education for kids, teenagers, young adults, and adults; remarkably effective stewardship; and successful initiatives of social justice, pro-life efforts, evangelization, and neighborhood presence.
I wanted the “recipe” so I could bottle it and send it around!
“Follow me, I’ll show you,” Father replied.
Through the school, filled with kids; on to the religious ed office, where catechists were planning the evening session; into the kitchen where people were cooking casseroles for the inner city soup kitchen; then to the senior citizen center where the lunch crowd was breaking-up; through the offices where volunteers were counting the Sunday collection . . . we didn’t stop . . . the pastor kept going . . . until we reached the chapel of the former convent, where, oh, perhaps six to eight people, of diverse ages, were in quiet adoration before Jesus, really and truly present in the Holy Eucharist, there in the monstrance on the altar.
“We’ve had perpetual Eucharistic adoration now for four years,” the pastor whispered. “We started slowly, about seven years ago, first with a day-a-week, then seven days, twelve-hour-a-day, until we had a well-oiled system in place. For the last four years, it’s been 24/7, with at least two people assigned every hour, all volunteers, and with many, many more during the waking hours. Our prayer hotline is legendary. I’m convinced this Eucharistic adoration is the key to the vitality, growth, and effectiveness of our parish.”
That recollection came to me as I read the story recently in a national newspaper of the “International House of Prayer’s 24 Hour Worship” in Kansas City. The article explained how a neighborhood had been revived, a congregation renewed, and lives changed by non-stop prayer sponsored by a small Christian evangelical church.
“Pray always!” the Good Book tells us, and Jesus exhorted us to make sure that our prayer was patient, persistent, and persevering.
Eucharistic adoration accomplishes this. It tells the world that “we can’t give what we don’t have,” and that, if we do not constantly turn to God in prayer for His grace and mercy, we’re finished. The best thing people of faith can do is pray . . . I can’t think of a better place to do that than before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
George Weigel recently wrote of “Miracles in Soho.” This dirty, crime-ridden, pagan, Sodom and Gamorrah-like west end of London now boasts a thriving parish, St. Patrick’s, a center of help, peace, outreach, welcome, service . . . and constant prayer before Jesus in the Eucharist. It’s a paradigm for the New Evangelization, George wrote after a recent visit, filled with young people excited about their faith, all centered around our Eucharistic Lord.
I am very grateful to the dozens and dozens of parishes throughout the archdiocese that encourage and offer Eucharistic adoration, some occasional, some on given days of the week, some perpetual. May the numbers increase!
The Church is renowned for all that we do — Catholic charities, health care, schools, youth work, love, service, and evangelization — and rightly so.
But what we do must flow from who we are — people of faith, prayer, adoration, our hearts on fire with our Lord, our best friend, the way, the truth, and the life.
If what we do does not spring from who we are, we are listless and ineffective.
When the first disciples asked Jesus about following Him, He did not say, “Come do a bunch of stuff with me.” Nope – He invited them to “Come, stay with me!” Eucharistic adoration is a great way to answer that invitation.
This article is courtesy of the Archdiocese of New York.
JUNE 18, 2011
HOLY WATER
The following comes from our Diocesan site. It is informative and a very good reminder of how important this sacramental is and that we might be taking it for granted.
It should be in every Home.
http://www.portlanddiocese.net/
Prayer When Using Holy Water
When blessing oneself with Holy Water say this prayer - By this holy water and by Your Precious Blood, wash away all my sins, O Lord.
St. Theresa of Avila on holy water: "From long experience I have learned that there is nothing like holy water to put devils to flight and prevent them from coming back again. They also flee from the cross, but return; so holy water must have great value."
Holy water is a means of spiritual wealth -- a sacramental that remits venial sin. The Church strongly urges its use, especially when dangers threaten. The devil hates holy water because of its power over him. He cannot long abide in a place or near a person that is often sprinkled with this blessed water.
HOLY WATER - A means of spiritual wealth: HOLY WATER is a sacramental that remits venial sin. Because of the blessing attached to it, Holy Church strongly urges it's use upon Her children, especially when dangers threaten, such as fire, storms, sickness, discord and other calamities. Every Catholic home should always have a supply of Holy Water. Did we realize now, as we shall after death, the many benefits which may be derived from Holy Water, we would use it far more frequently, and with greater faith and reverence. Holy Water has its great power and efficacy from the prayers of the Church. Following, are some of the petitions the priest makes to God when he blesses water: "O God... grant that this creature of Thine (water) may be endowed with divine grace to drive away devils and to cast out diseases, that whatever in the houses or possessions of the faithful may be sprinkled by this water, so that health which they seek by calling upon Thy Holy Name may be guarded from all assaults." The devil hates holy water because of its power over him. He cannot long abide in a place or near a person that is often sprinkled with blessed water. Holy Water, sprinkled with faith and piety, can move the Sacred Heart to bless your loved ones, present or absent, and protect them from all harm of soul and body. When worry and fear take possession of you, give your dear ones the benefit of the Church's prayer. Only in Purgatory can one understand how ardently a poor soul longs for Holy Water. If we desire to make a host or intercessors for ourselves, let us never forget them at the Holy Water font. The holy souls nearest to Heaven may need the sprinkling of only one drop to release them.
Blessing of a Bedroom
V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R. Who has made heaven and earth.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit.
Let us pray.
Bless this bedroom, Lord, so that all who live in it may remain firm in Your peace and persevere in Your will. May they live a long life and have children for many days to come, and finally arrive at the kingdom of heaven through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
(And it is sprinkled with holy water.)
JUNE 12, 2011
PENTECOST
Posted By Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.
Acts 2:1-11 / 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13 / Jn 20:19-23
The story of Pentecost is a real stunner! Jesus’ disciples, who’d been such wimps — fearful, aimless, hanging out in the upper room since Jesus’ Ascension — are suddenly transformed into fearless leaders, for whom nothing seems impossible.
In the past, as we’ve talked about this stunning event, we’ve described it in terms of the arrival, the coming, or the descent of the Spirit, upon the apostles. That language is really quite unhelpful and deceptive, for it suggests that the Holy Spirit somehow arrived at some place the Spirit hadn’t been before. And that isn’t true.
Our faith says the Holy Spirit of God is everywhere at all times. So what did happen? The Spirit of God didn’t change. The apostles did. These men whose hearts were frozen shut for a variety of reasons, finally were able to trust God enough to open their hearts to receive within, the Spirit who had always been there — held somewhat at bay outside. It was that accepting and receiving and taking in of the Spirit that made all the difference. And how hard that is to do, in part because we’re not so sure we want that transformation to happen just yet.
Remember how St. Augustine prayed for the grace of conversion during his wild and sinful youth? “Give me your grace, Lord. But not yet!”
We celebrate Pentecost because we need to do what the apostles did — and do it now: accept and receive within us the Spirit who has been present to us from the moment of birth.
May God help us to pray “Come Holy Spirit” with hearts that are truly open! Amen
Make Christ’s Presence Real in the World
May 30th, 2011 by Fr. Frank E. Jindra
Acts 16:11-15 / Jn 15:26-16:4
“The hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God.”
Jesus spoke these words to His disciples during His last discourse before His own death. His own disciples very quickly learned that they too were subject to death, not unlike what Jesus had to face. In our supposedly modern society, I would not be surprised to find ourselves facing similar problems in the years to come.
It is considered a simple fact that there were more martyrs during the twentieth century than all the previous nineteen centuries combined. We may not like to hear this, but I think it is a reality that we may face — if not in an actual martyrdom — is a dismissal of ourselves as being of any importance to our society.
Or am I speaking about something that has already happened?
When we look at the things that are going on in our society and the way in which our Christian faith is being dismissed as somehow irrelevant, what other conclusion can be drawn?
But just as Jesus’ disciples did not sit in a corner doing nothing, neither can we allow ourselves to be pushed aside by those in our society today who would say that we should keep our faith only in our churches or in our homes.
On Pentecost the disciples took their faith to the streets. They relied on the Holy Spirit to give them the words needed to turn many people’s hearts back to God. Since we’re coming so close now to the feast of Pentecost for this year, maybe it is time for us to pray for the same kind of thing to open up again for us.
Let the heavens open. Let the new fire fall. Let the people of God awaken. Let them — let us — not worry about what may come, but be more concerned about making Christ’s presence real in our world.
May the fire of the Holy Spirit rekindle in us a new evangelization, and may we not be afraid to be His voice today.
MAY 26, 2011
How to Plant a Mary Garden
Posted By Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur On May 26, 2011
Spring has come at last! It is time to plant and tend a garden. Mary gardens, gardens dedicated to our Blessed Mother, have been gaining popularity in recent years. How does one go about creating a Mary garden?
Many flowers and plants are associated with our Blessed Mother and various aspects of her life. These traditions hearken back to the Middle Ages, when religious devotion permeated almost every aspect of life. Some flowers are associated with Mary simply by virtue of their names. Others feature legends used as one means to instruct others about Jesus and Mary. It was one more way to teach the Gospel stories during a time when books and reading were not widespread.
While we may not need the stories about these flowers to teach us, we can nevertheless create a place of prayer and devotion by planting a garden with the intention of honoring Mary. Such a garden may be a lavish outdoor space or some simple indoor plantings. A Mary Garden also usually contains a statue or image of Mary.
This list of flowers and their meanings may help you get started:
Rose – Roses have been associated with Mary since the earliest days. They are a symbol of her glory and sorrow. Roses are often known as the queen of flowers. As such, they are also a sign of Mary’s queenship of heaven.
Lily of the Valley – Mary’s Tears – Legend holds that when Mary wept at the foot of the cross, her tears fell to the ground and these flowers blossomed. With its pure white flowers, it has also been associated with her Immaculate Conception.
Ox-Eye Daisy – Mary’s Star – This flower is associated with the Star of Bethlehem which led the Magi to the Christ child.
Fleur-de-lis – Yellow flag iris – A symbol of the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel came to Mary to ask her to be the mother of God’s son.
Chrysanthemum – All Saint’s Flower – This flower is believed to have been present when Christ was laid in the tomb.
Snowdrop – Candlemas Bells – These are said to have bloomed at Candlemas, when Mary brought Jesus to the temple for his presentation.
Gladiolus – the name of this flower comes from the Latin word for “sword” and stands for the sword that would pierce Mary’s heart.
Violet – a symbol of Mary’s constancy, humility, and innocence.
Marigold – Mary’s Gold – a symbol of Mary’s simplicity and domesticity. Sometimes also associated with her sorrows.
Carnations – their name reminds one of the Incarnation of Christ. They also are a symbol of the Crucifixion.
For more information on flowers and herbs associated with Mary, please visit:
http://www.fisheaters.com/marygardens.html
Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur has a Master of Arts degree in Applied Theology from Elms College, and is editor of SpiritualWoman.net. She is also the author of Letters to Mary from a Young Mother (2004).
(This article is adapted from a weekly column Patrice writes for CatholicMom.com, and is used by permission