The Excellence of the Rosary | Page 2

clear.
The realm of nature is the symbol of the realm of grace, as the realm of
grace is a symbol of the realm of glory. It was God's intention to let His
earthly creation be a reflection of the divine perfections, of the
supernatural, of divinity, so that man might perceive the supernatural
through created things, and thus more readily understand it. "For the
invisible things of him, from the creation of the world, are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are made" (Rom. i, 20).
Our first parents obtained a clear conception of the supernatural
through the natural things of this life. Nature was to them an open book,
in which they could read the divine perfections. Through sin the
understanding of man was dimmed and he failed in the interpretation of
nature. Instead of being led to God through it, he allowed himself to
become estranged, and from a master became the slave of nature.
Then Christ came and redeemed the world from the slavery of sin and
again granted to man the clear conception of the true God, as also the
right understanding of nature. This is verified in the saints and we have
a beautiful example in St. Francis of Assisi. About his interpretation
and meditation of nature St. Bonaventure says: "He considered all
things created as original from God, and saw in each creature the
Creator and Preserver."
Everything in nature was to him a symbol of spiritual life. He took
delight especially in flowers, because they reminded him of the flower
from the root of Jesse, which refreshens and gladdens the whole world.
See, my dear brethren, this is the correct, the Christian way of
contemplating nature. The spiritual world is reflected in the visible.

And Jesus being the King and Mary the Queen in the realm of grace
and glory, nature contains symbols that refer to Jesus and Mary. All
things of this creation: from the flowers of the valley to the brilliant
stars that illumine the night, all things in nature are symbols of the
glorious mother of God. Among many such symbols used in Holy
Scripture we find Mary called the mystical rose. The Church therefore
regards the rose as a symbol of Mary. Let us see in what the likeness
consists.
If on a summer's day we enter a garden, where various flowers through
their form, color and sweet odor delight and refresh us, our eye is
chiefly attracted by the rose. We are especially well pleased with it.
The rose is the queen of flowers in form, color and fragrant odor,
because of its beauty.
Let us turn now our gaze to the spiritual garden, the Church of Christ.
The various flowers there are the faithful, adorned with piety and virtue,
and spreading the fragrance of saintliness with which God is pleased. In
the Canticle of Canticles the Lamb of God is pictured as feeding among
the lilies. A beautiful thought! It tells us how the Lamb of God, our
divine Saviour, is fond of the flowers of God, the God-loving souls, as
is the lamb of the lilies.
And in this garden of God, the Holy Church, Mary is the rose, the pride
of the garden, the queen of the flowers. The rose is therefore the most
beautiful symbol of Mary, of all saints the queen, exalted above all
saints in sublimity, beauty, gentleness and sweetness. Therefore,
because Mary is among the saints what the rose is among flowers, she
is called "the mystical rose." And the name rosary is to remind us of
this.
The rose, furthermore, signifies the virtuous life of Mary the virgin.
The rosebud is a beautiful symbol of virginity. It is hidden as under a
veil. Lovely is the Christian virgin, hidden in the garb of innocence like
a rosebud. Mary is the Virgin of Virgins, and can above all be
compared to the fair and undefiled rosebud.
The open, blooming rose is an emblem of pure motherhood. Like the

opened radiant rose the Christian mother is in the full vigor of life; her
heart open with true love for her husband and children; and she unfolds
her soul to heaven, so that through prayer she may receive the needed
assistance for herself and hers. Through her good example in Christian
virtues she spreads around her the fragrance of a God- pleasing life, and
encourages those who associate with her to imitate her virtues.
Mary is the immaculate virgin and mother, mother of God, and of all
mankind. She is the most noble and perfect of all mothers. Like a
magnificent rose she shines in the splendor of her virtues, and is the
perfect example for all mothers. Because her heart is fired with love for
God and man, she is, as