Mary's Rose

Mary’s Rose

Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.

                                                                        Luke 2:19

            In the dark of night, hidden in an obscure cave in Bethlehem with only animals to keep a humble couple company, the Bud of your rose was born. You cradled Him tenderly in your holy, virginal arms. He was placed under the protective guidance of Joseph, His virginal foster father. This Bud thus humbled Himself. This Bud, through Whom the universe was created, Who is the Creator of His earthly parents, Who is the God of the universe, was born in human flesh, a mere bud of a rose. And you, Joseph, and the animals in His hidden stable knelt to adore your Son, the Bud of our salvation and His Church on Earth. The Heavens burst with exuberance at the birth of your Bud.

            Your Bud smiled at the shepherds and cooed at the lambs. He embraced the visit of regal, gentile magi. The souls in Shaol cheered, for their day of deliverance into Heaven was near.

            Little is known of your life in exile in Egypt. The growth of your Bud is hidden from us, but sweetly enjoyed by you and Joseph. His petals slowly unfolded, revealing to you mystery upon mystery of your Bud.

Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.

                                                                        Luke 2:19

            What a joyous wonder was it, after three days of worried searching, to behold your now young Rose conversing and questioning the temple teachers. Questions and insights that were adult in maturity and wisdom, well beyond His years. Your worried perplexity confused Him that you did not realize for those three days, “Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?” Luke 2:49

            As a rose unfolds from its bud, petal by petal, so you witnessed the unfolding of your Son’s divinity, the unfolding of His redemptive mission. You meditated on each segment, each unfolding of your Rose’s life and actions, treasuring all deep within your Immaculate Heart.

            Your hidden years, a gift from your Spouse, your Heavenly Father, your Divine Son. A needed respite from the public life that would take His—your—privacy. A gift to watch the wonder of your Rose growing, playing, and praying. The joy of watching each petal open year upon year. Oh, the divine secrets your Rose must have shared with you. The Divine plan for the redemption of humanity. Petal by petal your Rose was likely teaching and enlightening you about His Passion, the sword that would pierce your heart, the role that you would play in God’s plan, God’s plan for you as mother of His Church and of His spiritual children. So tender and precious were the hugs that you must have shared with your divine Rose.

            A wedding feast—Cana. What a jubilant celebration for the newly wedded couple. This couple very likely was much loved in the community to have run out of wine. You, ever vigilant to the needs of others, noticed. Wishing to spare the newlyweds embarrassment, your Rose you beckoned, “They have no wine.” Thus water into wine, symbolic of wine into His Precious Blood, initiated your Rose’s mission and trail to His redemptive Passion, Death, and Resurrection.

            Your Rose grew in beauty and radiance during His public life as He worked to unveil for humanity God’s plan in the new and final covenant. His life revealed the true nature and wish of the Trinity. “Love one another as I have loved you.” Love your neighbor—and enemy—as you love yourself. This command of love, your Rose added to the Old Testament covenant, to the Ten Commandments given to Moses for God’s people—for all people.

          Your Rose’s many miracles and compassion disclosed that He is Who He says He is—God, the Creator of all. They disclosed the total, loving compassion of God. “Your sins are forgiven you.” Your Rose shone brilliantly through His public life. What silent joy and pride must have been yours. What treasures you must have pondered and stored permanently in your Immaculate Heart.

         Yet trials unbearable to mothers who are not you, thrust the sword predicted by Simeon into your virginal heart. Your Rose was to suffer excruciatingly for us sinful creatures. Our multitude of sins caused unspeakable and unimaginable pain for your Rose—physical and spiritual pain as this sinless lamb took our sins onto Himself.

        You accompanied Him along His journey toward calvary. You felt, in your maternal, Immaculate Heart, every lash, every insult, every false accusation, every pain piercing His skin, and, yes, every second of the three hours that your Rose hung suffering on the Cross, thorns crowning His supreme and delicate head—an ironic crown of humility for the King of Heaven and Earth.

       Your Rose bloomed now beyond its normal fullness—all save one petal. His petals now conjoined bicolored. To this point in His life, His petals were red, preparing for the finale of His earthly mission. During His scourging, during His hanging on the Cross, the red of His blood was slowly being drained for us, the red of your Rose being drained of Its color until the piercing of His side with a spear after He released His Spirit to His Father and every drop of His blood was shed. The last petal opened and all color drained from your Rose.

       Thirty years your Rose lived hidden from us. Three days He lay hidden from you. Yet that was not the end of your Rose, was not His demise. In birth your Rose came into the world in a cave to initiate His redemptive work. In His glorious Resurrection He emerged from a cave, our redemption won. Though now, with the passion red drained from your Rose, His divine mission was complete. Your Rose is now the purest of white—whiter than anything that humanity can imagine or conger. A white that portrays the promise to His faithful that we will one day become this dazzling, pure white when we meet you and your Rose in Heaven.

       You will ponder all these things in your Immaculate Heart through all eternity.

Thank you, Mother Mary, for your Rose

Blessed Mother of Our Rose