I. JESUS AT THE LAST SUPPER

When it grew dark Jesus reclined at table with the Twelve. In the course of the meal he said, "One of you is about to betray me." Judas, hls betrayer, spoke, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?" Jesus answered, "It is you who have said it." During the meal Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to his disciples. "Take this and eat it," he said. "this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them. "All of you must drink from it," he said, "for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, to be poured out in behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins."

Consider the Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum capillis veneris) a Mary flower often used in England to decorate the altar for the feast of Corpus Christi which honors the Eucharist. Recall the woman who washed Christ's feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair; then ponder the example of Christ washing the feet of his disciples asking that they do as he did.

II. JESUS PRAYS IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANI

Jesus made his way to the Mount of Olives. He withdrew from his disciples about a stone's throw, went down on his knees and prayed in these words: "Father, if it is your will, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done." An angel then appeared to him from heaven to strengthen him. In his anguish he prayed with all the greater intensity, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground,

Consider the St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum), named "Christ's Sweat" from the blood-like red speckles dotting its yellow petals. Consider also the Wood Sorrel (Oxalis acetosella) a bitter Mary flower which, together with other bitter herbs, symbolizes the bitterness of our Lord's passion, and the depth of our Lady's sorrows. The triple leaf of this plant suggests the trinitarian scene in Gethsemani - (the Son praying to his Father and sustained by the Spirit in his agony). The sorrel's white flower stained with purple suggests the passion of the innocent victim, Christ.

III. JESUS IS TAKEN PRISONER

While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived accompanied by a great crowd with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the chief priests and elders of the people. His betrayer had arranged to give them a signal, saying, "The man I shall enbrace is the one; take hold of him." He immediately went over to Jesus and said to him, "Peace, Rabbi," and embraced him. Jesus answered, "Friend, do what you are here for." At that moment they stepped forward to lay hands on Jesus and arrested him.

Consider the Mistletoe (Viscum album). There is something very striking about the fresh golden-green leaves and white waxen berries of this plant as they spring from a tree in death-like winter sleep. It suggested to Marian devotees the Christ-flowering from the root of Jesse which took place in Mary's womb after an Old Testament winter of expectant waiting. It was formerly much used in church decoration. It is thought that the custom of kissing under the mistletoe originated in the ceremonia1 kiss of peaoe at the Christ Mass, a striking contrast to the kiss of Judas.

IV. JESUS 1S BROUGHT BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN

They led Jesus off to the chief priests. After a time the high priest rose to his feet and began to interrogate Jesus: "Have you no answer to what these men testify against you?" But Jesus renmained silent. Once again the high priest interrogated him: "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" Then Jesus answered, "I am; and you wiil see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven." At that the high priest tore his robes and said, "What further need have we of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What is your verdict?" They all concurred in the verdict: gui1ty with its sentence of death.

Consider the iris or Mary's Sword of Sorrow (Iris sp.), from its sword- like foliage recalling the prophecy of Simeon to Mary at Presentation of the child Jesus in the Temple that he would be s sign that would be contradicted and Mary's own soul would be pierced with a sword, "that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed." . Consider also the lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis), also known as The Virgin Mary's Tears or Our Lady's Milk Herb. The leaves of this Mary- plant are handsomely blotched and speckled with white. When it blossoms, pink buds open into blue flowers. It is said that Mary on her way out of Jeruselem after presenting Jesus in the Temple sat down to nurse him. This plant at her feet caught the blue of her eye, but they grew pink when Mary's eyes reddened with weeping as she reflected on the sufferings predicted for her Son. The baby moved suddenly and some of her milk fell on the leaves causing the white markings still on them.

V. JESUS IS DENIED BY PETER

While Peter was down in the courtyard one of the servant girls said, "You were with Jeus of Nazareth." But he denied it. At that moment a rooster crowed. Again the servant said, "This man is one of them." Once again he denied it. Later the bystanders said to Peter, "You are one of them. You are Galilean, are you not? Peter cursed and said, "I don't even know the man." Just then a second cockcrow was heard.

Consider the Passion Flower (Passiflora sp.), whose ten petals were seen to symbolize the twelve apostles, less Judas who betrayed and Peter who denied.

On the other hand, consider the Cowslip (Primula veris) called Our Lady's Keys because the flowers suggest a bunch of keys by their pendant bloom clusters - the keys of Mary Mediatrix to the storehouses of heavenly grace. From its shape this flower is also dedicated to St. Peter, who, in spite of his denial of Christ, was eventually given the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

Consider also the Pansy (Viola tricolor) a name which comes from the French pensˇe (meaning thoughts), and from its three colors also known as Trinity Flower. It is dedicated to Mary who "kept all these things in her heart." So also did Peter and it led him to repentance.

VI. JESUS IS TAKEN TO PILATE

At daybreak they brought Jesus to the praetorium. There Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Are you saying this on your own, or have others been telling you about me?" "I am no Jew" Pilate retorted. "It is your own people and the chief priests who have handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my subiects would be fighting to save me from being handed over to the Jews. As it is, my kingdom is not here."

Consider the Sundew (Drossera rotundifolia). This plant has a rosette of green leaves thickly covered with red hairs and on the tip of sach hair is a drop of dew. It is also called Gideon's Fleece which is a symbol of the Incarnation achieved in Mary's womb. This sign (a fleece dampened by dew while the ground all around was dry) was an answer to a prayer. Pilate too seeks a sign but does not recognize the one God gives him. Mary always recognized God's signs.

VII. JESUS 1S SCOURGED AND CROWNED WITH THORNS

Pilate had Jesus scourged and then handed him over to be crucified. The soldiers led Jesus away and dressed him in royal purple. Then they wove a crown of thorns and put it on him and began to salute him: "All hail! King of the Jews!" Continually striking Jesus on the head with a reed and spitting at him, they genuflected before him and pretended to pay him homage.

Consider Millfoil or Our Lord's Back (Achillea millefolia) whose myriads of red flowerets were seen to symbolize the welts of Christ's scourged back.

Also, the Crown of Thorns or Christ's Crown (Euphorbia splendens), whose intense tiny red flowers brought to mind the blood drops emerging from Christ's forehead at the thorn- pricks.

Then consider Our Lady's Seal or Black Bryony (Tamus communis). The root stock of this plant has great efficacy when crushed and spread in a medicinal plaster and applied to seal up a scar or bruise. It is known to be helpful in healing wounds, even in mending broken bones. How Mary must have wished to apply such a seal to the wounds of her Son.

VIII. JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH

When Jesus was accused, he made no reply. Pilate said, "Surely you hear how many charges they bring against you. He did not reply on a single count. Now on the occusion of a festival the procurator was accustomed to release one prisoner whom the crowd would designate. It was Barabbas, not Jesus, they chose. Pilate released Jesus to them to be crucified.

Consider the Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) also called Our Lady's Tears. This flower is said to have had its origin at the moment of the condemnation of Christ to death for it was then that Mary wept and as her tears touched the earth, these flowers sprang up. The same legend is also associated with the Greater Stitchwort (Stellaria holostea) which also bears the name Tears of Mary.

IX. JESUS WITH SIMON OF CYRENE MEETS WOMEN OF JERUSALEM

As they led him away, they laid hoId of Simon of Cyrene who was coming in from the fields. They put the cross beam on his shoulders to carry along behind Jesus. A great crowd followed including women who beat their breasts and lamented over him. Jesus said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me. Weep for yourselves and your children. The days are coming when they will say to the mountains, 'Fall on us' and to the hills, 'Cover us.' If they do these things in the green wood, what will happen in the dry?"

Consider the Ground Ivy (Nepeta glechoma) which is also called Where-God-Has-Walked and Madonna's Herb. There are bright splashes of color wherever it grows in large patches along oountry hedges and on waste ground. It's leaves are heart shaped and its shoots, both stem and leaf, are of various shades of red and purple. Its labiate flowers, which grow out of the stem, are usually purple but also sometimes white. A lovely reminder that God did walk this earth even to Calvary where he died for us.

Consider the Tiger Flower or Christ's Knee (Tigridia pavonia), symbol of Christ's bloodied knees from his falls while carrying the Cross.

X. JESUS IS CRUCIFIED

They brought Jesus to the site Golgotha aod crucified him. It was about nine in the morning. The inscription proclaming his offense read: "The King of the Jews." With him they crucified two insurgents. People going by kept insulting him, saying, "Ha, ha! So you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days! Save yourself now by coming down from that cross!" The chief priests and the scribes also joined in and jeered. The men crucified with him likewlse kept taunting him.

Consider the Violet (Viola odorata) also called Our Lady's Modesty or Humility It is said to be among the flowers of which the shadow of the cross fell on the day of the crucifixion. It dropped its head in sorrow and in acknowledgement of the import of this great event and has always remained thus. Its color suggests the purple of the Church in mourning.

Consider also Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes cernua), known formerly as Our Lady's Tresses. It takes this name from the spiral of its flower heads reminiscent of plaited hair and is associated with the legend that Mary at the foot of the cross and in deep agony tore out a tress of her hair which St. John thereafter preserved.

XI. JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing." Near the cross of Jesus there stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clepas, and Mary Magdalene. Seeing his mother there with the disciple whom he loved, Jesus said to his mother, "Woman, there is your son." In turn he said to the disciple, "There is your mother." From that hour onward, the disciple took her into his care. Toward midafternoon Jesus cried out in a loud tone, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Then he said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." He bowed his head and delivered over his spirit.

Consider the red poppy Together with the white flowers of or Christ's Blood Gromwell or Mary's Drops (Papaver Tears (Lithospermum oriental) whose red officinalis) mingled with them flowers were said to have as wellsprings of the outpouring of sprung up at the foot of Christ's grace mediated to the the cross from Jesus' the world through Mary's sorrowful redemptive blood drops. motherly heart.

Consider the Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalus). It is said that when our first parents were banished from Eden they found winter beyond its gates. Eve stood sobbing, broken-hearted. The leafless trees, the bare ground and the biting winds were a dreadful contrast to the bowers of the garden of pleasure. God sent an angel to comfort her. The angel pointed to the ground where her tears of penitence had fallen and lo! there sprang up a little plant with a teardrop for its blossom. He gave the blossom to Eve, telling her that it was an assurance that happiness would return to her and all her progeny. The death and resurrection of Christ fulfills the promise of the Snowdrop.

XII. JESUS' SIDE IS PIERCED BY A LANCE

The Jews asked Pilate that the legs of the crucified be broken and the bodies taken away. Wben they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers thrust a lance into his side and immediately blood and water flowed out. These events took place for the fulfillment of the Scripture: "Break none of his bones." There is another Scripture passage which says: "They shall look on him whom they have pierced."

Consider the Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis) - long associated with the suffering hearts of Jesus and Mary - and thus known both as Christ's Heart, and also Mary's Heart; each of whose pendant heart- shaped blooms has at its base a red and white droplet, signifying the mixture of blood and water flowing from Christ's pierced side.

Consider also the tradition which tells us that the Bracken (Pteridium aquilinus) was among the hay in the manger at Bethlehem, but refused to acknowledge the presence of its Creator and so thenceforward it lost the flowers it once bore. But the bracken repented. Now when Christmas draws near, its dry stems when cut open bear a symbol of its sorrow: either the figure of our first parents in Eden, one on either eide of the fateful tree, or else the sacred monogram of our Redeemer: IHS (meaning "Jesus, Savior of Humankind"). From this mark of loving penitence it is also called Fern of God.

XilI. JESUS IS BURIED

There was a man named Joseph, from Arimathea, and he looked expectantly for the reign of God. He approached Pilate with a request for Jesus' body. He took it down, wrapped it in fine linen, and laid it in a tomb hewn out of the rock, in which no one had yet been buried. The women wbo had come wlth him from Galilee followed along behind. They saw the tomb and how his hody was buried. Then they went home to prepare spices and perfumes.

Consider the Rosemary (Rosmarinus). Legend says that it has been aromatic and evergreen since the time the swaddling clothes of the Holy Infant were hung upon it, and that since his death, it has borne purple markings upon its lavender flowerets in memory of Calvary. In olden times it was customary to strew rosemary on the tombs of the departed.

XIV. JESUS RISES FROM THE DEAD

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene came with the other Mary to inspect the tomb. Suddenly there was a mighty earthquake as the angel of the Lord descended from heaven. He came to the stone, rolled it back, and sat on it. In appearance he resembled a flash of lightning while his garments were as white as snow. The guards grew paralyzed with fear of him and fell down 1ike dead men. Then the angel spoke, addressing the women: "Do not be frightened. I know you are looking for Jesus the crucified, but he is not here. He has been raised exactly as he promised."

Consider the Tansey (Tanacetum vulgare). Its hard golden flowerets will keep their color for a long time if dried when they are at their best. Perhaps it is from this everlasting quality that it gets its name tansy for it is a word derived from athanatos (the Greek word for immortality). Its health giving properties may also have inspired ite name. In Europe it is called Jesus-wort. Consider a1so the Rose of Jericho or Resurrection Plant (Anastatica hierochuntica) which was brought to Europe from the Holy Land by the Crusaders. After flowering it dries up, but when soaked in water, opens up again.

Today the Easter Lily is widely valued as a symbol of Christ's Resurrection,

CONCLUSION

For a smaller garden a Passion Flower vine (Passiflora Incarnata) may be trained to climb up at the base of the cross, presenting its multiple symbolism of:

The following prayer is a traditional prayer of the members ot the Society ot Mary (Marianists). It is their custom to pray it daily as close it 3:00 p.m. as possible. For this reason they Call it: The Three O'Clook Prayer.

Lord, Jesus, we gather in spirit at the foot of the Cross with your Mother and the disciple whom you loved. We ask pardon of our sins which are the cause of your death. We thank you for remembering us in that hour of salvation and for giving us Mary as our Mother

Holy Virgin, take us under your protection and open us to the action of the Holy Spirit.

St. John, obtain for us the grace of taking Mary into our life as you did and of assisting her in her mission. Amen.

May the Father and the Son and the Holy Splrit be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Msry.

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This page, maintained by The Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute, was last Modified March 9, 1999 by J.C. Tierney. Please send any comments to ROTEN@data.lib.udayton.edu.

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