194 FLORAL SYMBOLISM 



and ingenious conceits. The flower, he said, 

 had been willing, at the time of flowering, to 

 be born of a flower in a flower — i.e., Jesus per- 

 mitted Himself to be announced to Mary at 

 Nazareth in the spring: " Flos nasci voluit de 

 flore, in flore, et floris tempore.' " ' 



So we find a stem of lilies or a vase of flowers 

 as the symbol of His miraculous birth, and on 

 the morning of His nativity rejoicing angels 

 carried olive branches as they sang of peace on 

 earth and goodwill towards men. A helpless 

 Infant, He lay upon the ground to receive the 

 Adoration of His Mother and of angels, among 

 roses of love and UHes of purity, or in grass 

 thick with the daisies, violets and strawberries 

 which told of His innocence, humility and 

 righteousness. 



As a boy, growing perhaps to a consciousness 

 of His mission, in Spain He is found with thorny 

 roses, wounding Himself sometimes with the 

 thorns of grief and suffering springing from His 

 divine love itself. • 



Early devotional art left Christ's life with its 

 miracles and parables and passed to His Passion. 



' Yrjo Hirn, The Sacred Shrine. 



