56 



Flowers and Plants 



observed that the flowers dedicated to, or connected 

 with the names of, certain Saints, are generally in 

 blossom at or near the time of their festivals. 

 Whether this was originally aiTanged, more especially 

 to enforce the t*eaching of the Church and of its 

 doctrine, by the lives of its holy men, thus inti- 

 mately associating natural objects with spiritual 

 matters; or whether, from the fact of the flowers 

 being in bloom at the times of the various festivals, 

 and being thus connected in the minds of the simple, 

 independently of any direct teaching from the 

 Church, is not now to be ascertained ; but, be this 

 as it may, whether they were originally objects of 

 superstition, or whether our forefathers "loved to 

 discover in each opening bud some holy symbol of 

 their Blessed Lord, or of His Saints still it is to 

 be hoped that the subject is not without interest 

 for us, their posterity, in these more practical days. 



* ' And thus, with many feelings, many thoughts, 

 We make a meditative joy, and find 

 Religious meanings in the forms of Nature." 



