When Roses Bloom

In the beginning…

The garden is adorned with every variety of flower enhancing the beauty of life itself. All flowers are magnificent creations however, one seems to stand out above the others. With its majestic presence, amazing fragrance and beauty, there is something special about the rose.

Let’s first take in the array of significant color...

White roses are known for purity and chastity. They represent new beginnings making them perfect for weddings. The ivory rose is calming and gives a vibe of elegance and charm. Yellow roses stand for friendship, joy and caring. Also used to welcome someone back home or remember them while they are gone.

The soft shade of the peach rose stands for modesty, sincerity, and sympathy. They are a perfect way to say thank you! With the bold shade of orange roses, we can tell someone we are proud of them. They bring up a sense of enthusiasm and fascination. The elegant pink rose signifies femininity, sweetness, and admiration.

True love is sincerely professed in the red rose. This deep hue represents passion and longing. It says, ‘I’m ready for commitment!’ making it a most popular gift for Valentine’s Day! The lavender rose stands for wonder and mystery while the green rose promotes growth and rejuvenation of spirit.

There are still other shades like the mysterious blue rose and even black roses for death and farewell. The variety of colors make the rose even more intriguing!

If you are lucky enough to have access to growing roses, consider the blessings. The timing of their blooms gives us an opportunity to discover ways God speaks to us through the wonders of nature. When rosebuds appear, for about 2 weeks, we await the revelation of new life. Perhaps check on them daily, in prayerful anticipation of their fullness in time. This can be a perfect occasion to offer a novena for a special intention or fruition.

As buds unfold, the roses ever so gently become the magnificent beauties we all so adore. Their heavenly fragrance fills the air, and we engage in their presence. Another opportunity to pray in thanksgiving, as we have only approximately 2 short weeks to enjoy these precious gifts. Oh, how sweet life can be! How poetic, profound, and perfect is the rose!

Every Rose has its Thorn

As enticing it is to enjoy the rose, the daunting aspect of course are its thorns. The familiar rock ballad by ‘Poison’ tells us about the end of a bittersweet love story. It describes how painful love can be! The gift of true love always comes with pains of sacrifice. It sings, “Every rose has its thorn, just like every night has its dawn.” Let the tune linger in our minds as we imagine the thorns of Jesus’ Passion (the red rose) leading to the glory of His Resurrection (the white rose). Makes us wonder… Is love not worth it?

The Mystical Rose

As we celebrate Mother’s Day, we may want to remember our Heavenly Mother Mary. Among her many titles (incredibly over 2600 of them!) she is known as the Mystical Rose. The rose is considered highest in the hierarchy of flowers, as the Virgin Mary is ranked #1 in order of Grace. Her mystical union with the Holy Trinity makes her Queen of all Spiritual Flowers as God set her apart for Himself, as one would cherish a prize-winning flower in their garden.

The Rosary, (in Latin Rosarium means rose garden), is a most powerful way to enter in relationship with her. When we study the Mystical Rose in great depth, we unveil hidden divine wonders of Our Lady. She is all a Spiritual Mother could be, and much, much more! How well do you know her?

Perhaps we can honor our Moms with the unique beauty of a multi-colored bouquet of roses! One color might not be enough to show her just how special she really is!

Celebrate Motherhood…Celebrate Life!

Happy Mothers’ Day!

For extra blessings…take time to stop and smell those roses!

Until our next walk through the garden

-Anne