The appeal of our devotion to Mary

Penelope Middelboe

Catholics devote the entire month of May to Mary. In the West, May is a most beautiful time of year when new life appears everywhere, bursting forth at unexpected speed. So it’s only fitting to dedicate this month to the woman who gave new life to the world.

Flowers have traditionally been associated with Mary because of their sheer loveliness. Medieval Christians apparently adopted the rose as the emblem of Mary’s love of God (Rosary means ‘Garland of Roses’); the white lily (Madonna lily) for her purity; and the marigold for her radiant heavenly glory. Herbs represent her bitter sorrows and her healing mercy. The flowers of the rosemary bush turned blue when Mary hung her coat on a rosemary bush during the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt. In fact, I have a Spanish friend who has a Mary Garden in her ‘huerto’ or allotment where she grows flowers in honour of Mary to decorate the Church. Her dark house is full of lilies and roses in vases being kept cool for their moment of glory on the altar.