138 THE GLORY OF THE GARDEN 



so called because Our Lady wore the flower in her 

 bosom. 



" What flower is that which bears the Virgin's name, 

 The richest metal joined with the same ?" 



A very ancient legend records that, before the 

 birth of Our Lord, Our Lady longed extremely to 

 quench her thirst with some cherries which hung 

 high above her head; so she asked St. Joseph to 

 pick them. He, however, is reputed to have replied : 

 " Let the father of thy child present thee with the 

 cherries if he will." No sooner had these words 

 escaped his lips than, as if in reproof, the branch 

 of the cherry tree bowed spontaneously to the Holy 

 Virgin, and she gathered the fruit and ate it. Hence 

 the cherry is dedicated to Our Lady. 



The flowering almond has always been dedicated 

 to Our Lady, as Queen of Heaven. 



Among the Hebrews, the almond tree was 

 regarded as the symbol of haste and vigilance, 

 because of the suddenness of its flowering, which 

 announced the spring. 



The Cedar of Lebanon, because of its height, its 

 incorruptible substance, and its healing virtues, 

 is by Catholics regarded as a symbol of Our Lady, 

 expressing her greatness, her beauty, and her 

 goodness. 



The Jews evidently considered the cedar a sacred 

 tree, and hence it was used in the making of idols. 



" Wild and waste lay our desolate garden, 

 Stripped of blossom and leaf and fruit. 



Lo ! at last in the golden Autumn 

 Sprang the Lily from Jesse's root. 



Hope and Beauty came back to Earth 

 Once again in Our Lady's birth." 



